IBB Calls For Wider Consultations On Security

Former military President Ibrahim Babangida, has called for wider consultations in the bid to find lasting solutions to the security challenges facing the country.

In a statement issued in Abuja on Monday and signed by Prince Kassim Afegbua, his spokesman, Babangida said. “All our religious leaders, political leaders, traditional rulers, opinion moulders, the media, must unite to arrest this ugly phase of our political life.

“Our capacity to live together must be demonstrated at all times so that the country can nurture its national objectives without equivocation,’’ the statement quoted IBB as saying.

“We must, therefore, share in the national aspiration and be more forthcoming in our anti-corruption crusade.

“As a former president for eight years and someone who survived 11 major crises in the country, both ethnic and religious, I can appreciate the enormity of the challenges facing Mr President.

The statement also quoted IBB as saying that the removal of oil subsidy by the government was ill-timed.

The statement quoted IBB as saying that government should have kept its word till April by “which time better explanation would have been given before implementation takes effect’’.

“The National Assembly should have been made to be part of the decision-making process since the 2012 budget is yet to be discussed and passed by the Legislature.

“I will insist that a political solution be sought in resolving the issue so that a mutually agreeable position would be reached between the leaders and the people,’’ the statement further quoted him as saying.