Daily Trust

Written by Abdulwasiu Hassan Thursday, 26 January 2012 17:33

Former Military President General Ibrahim Badamasi  Babangida has declared that at 71, he is still ready to fight for the unity of Nigeria.

The former President who said this during the 9^th Annual Trust Dialogue which he chaired today at the Transcorp Hilton hotel, said nobody should call for dismemberment of Nigeria. “if you do, I will call a tailor, take my measurement, get back in to khaki and go and fight even at age 71.”

General Babangida, listed the republican status of Nigeria and its capitalism as part of its settled matters, declared that he would not seek for elective office again.

“I think now I know what to do. I want to borrow a leaf from former American President Richard Nixon in 1962 when he lost the race for the governor of California. Richard Nixon decided to retire from politics and he told the press ‘I have news for you. You will not have Nixon to kick around anymore’. Today I also have news for the Nigeria media. Although I may continue to be involved in advising up and coming aspirants, I have decided not to seek any political office again. My dear Nigerian journalists, you won’t have Ibrahim Babangida to kick around anymore.”

One of the speakers at the occasion Dr Abubakar Sidiqque warned against the dangers posed by sensational journalism that pit Nigerians against other Nigerians on the basis of ethnicity and politics.

The Political science lecturer at the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, said unless something is done about sensationalism which pits people against one another, Nigeria may reenact the infamous Rwandan genocide.

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