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Wednesday, 17 August 2016

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Lawmakers should be on part-time – IBB

IBB
Atiku, Niger gov laud ex-military president at 75 
By Aideloje Ojo, Minna and Bode Olagoke, Abuja
Former Military President,
General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (IBB), yesterday advocated a part-time legislature for members of the National Assembly to cut cost of governance in the country.
Babangida stated this in Minna when he hosted members of the Correspondents Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Niger state council, to celebrate his 75th birthday.
He said although, a proposal by his regime to make it so in 1989 failed, he still strongly believes in it.
“In 1989, we proposed that the National Assembly should be made part-time and I still believe if I have the opportunity, I will make it part-time. I strongly believe in it and it is all in the effort to reduce the high cost of governance, and I know I may be in trouble for suggesting part time legislature,” he said.
On his rumoured death in the online media, the ex-military president said he was not
surprised as it was not new.
“The first thing that came to my mind was that it is not new; they did it to Nnamdi Azikiwe, they did it to Shehu Shagari and other elder statesmen, so it’s not a surprise.
“As a Muslim, whether I like it or not, I must die someday and so they are just stating the obvious, but nobody knows the time or place that it will happen,” the retired general said.
On his appellation as evil genius, IBB said he was mostly being misunderstood, saying “I am not the evil people think I am.”
Also speaking on the $12.8 billion he allegedly stole, the self-styled ex-military president described it as one of such misconceptions about him, explaining that “when people started saying that I stole $12.8 billion, I laughed and said to myself, if I had such money, I will probably not be in the country.”
Babangida said he believed that the future generations would research into the leadership history of the country, discover the truth and vindicate him.
Speaking on his late wife, Mariam, he said she once escaped death by the whiskers the day his gun accidentally discharged at home during his days in active military service.
He said as a military officer, he always heard of accidental discharge, but never experienced one until it involved his wife , adding, however, that God, in His infinite mercies, made her escape the bullet.
On how he met Mariam and proposed to her, he said: “I told her straight that I wanted to marry her. But she did not believe me because I was a play boy. But I convinced her that I was going to change. She agreed and I actually changed to be a good husband.”
Extolling the virtues of his late wife, Babangida said it’s not been easy coping with her absence, but commended his children for standing by him.
Recalling his civil war experience, the general explained that the movement from Enugu to Umuahia was one of the toughest experiences in his military career.
“Our movement as federal troops from Enugu to Umuahia was much tough. We went through mountains and jungles. That was when I got injured in April 1969,” he said, adding that “we joined the army to protect the country.”
Describing the military as “a noble profession”, he encouraged the nation’s youths to enlist in the military in patriotic service to their fatherland.
Speaking earlier, Chairman of the chapel, Wole Mosadomi, commended the former military ruler for his fatherly role in ensuring the unity of the nation, praying God to give him good health in the years ahead.
Meanwhile, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, has lauded Babangida’s “virtues of forgiveness and the magnanimous spirit,” which he described as “one of the magnetic and endearing features of his character.”
“The virtues of forgiveness and the magnanimous spirit of the former president is one of the magnetic and endearing features of his character.
“It is impossible to encounter IBB without being moved by his humility towards people, regardless of their social status in life. His detribalised nature and passion about Nigeria’s oneness are virtues worthy of emulation.”
In a congratulatory message, the former VP also commended IBB for giving the country two political parties (Social Democratic Party and the National Republican Convention) in the 1993 electoral process.
Also in a similar tribute, Niger state Governor, Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello, described IBB as an indispensable leader and adviser. The governor in a congratulatory message signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Malam Jibrin Baba Ndace, said the former leader has remained relevant in the Nigerian Project.
“Former Military President Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida has remained a good man, a father, a role model and a pride to Nigerlites in particular and Nigerians in general.
“The role he has been playing towards the consistent growth and development of this country in general and Niger state in particular are unquantifiable. His dogged commitment to the corporate existence of Nigeria as one indivisible country has been unique and unparalleled”, he said.

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