IBB insists Nigeria has no alternative to unity, as Turaki worries over increasing insecurity

Former Nigeria’s military President, General Ibrahim Babangida has charged Nigerians to do everything possible at all times to keep the unity of the country, arguing that Nigerians have no option but to keep the unity of the country.

Babangida who stated this while responding to remarks made by a frontline Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), presidential aspirant, Kabiru Tanimu Turaki, SAN who visited him at his residence in Minna, Niger State as part of consultations with former leaders and elders in the country, stressed that no progress can be made without unity.

He commended Turaki for pursuing the vision of Nigeria’s founding fathers, noting that the aspirant’s vision as encapsulated in his remarks have identified areas critical to the wellbeing of the country.

General Babangida said he endorsed Turaki’s idea about how Nigeria should move forward. “You have the experience, vigour and drive to get this country moving. We will guide and advise you when necessary as you continue to pursue your goal. I wish you well,” the former President said.

The presidential aspirant in a release signed by, Sola Atere, Director, Media and Publicity, Kabiru Tanimu Turaki Presidential Campaign Organisation, had accused the All Progressives Congress (APC) government of fueling hatred and disunity among Nigerians, especially through its open discrimination in dealing with critical existential issues.

He said: “Today, Nigeria has been so battered that the people are losing confidence in the Nigerian Project. Today, people are losing hope and the actions of government have propelled increased agitations for self-determination by constituent units.”

The government, he said further, has failed to meet the irreducible minimum of providing security for the protection of lives and property of the people. Besides, he said, the security agencies are working at cross-purposes, with the leadership not mustering the necessary political will to call them to order.

The Senior Advocate of Nigeria pointed out that that the Executive had also been overreaching its powers in its relationships with the Legislature and the Judiciary. All these unsavoury developments have been creating unnecessary tension in the country, he said.

Earlier, during a visit to Lafia, Nasarawa State as part of the consultation to the PDP secretariat, Turaki assured Nigerians that he would provide a more effective and efficient security architecture than what APC provides currently, to protect lives and property.

The aspirant who was the chairman, Presidential Committee on Dialogue and Peaceful Resolution of the Security Challenges in the North East under President Goodluck Jonathan, noted that the 2015 general elections were held in the three frontline states of Borno, Yobe and Adamawa affected by Boko Haram insurgence because the government then was able to push the insurgents to the fringes of the country.

He said: “If the APC government had built on what was on ground and not abandon the recommendations handed over to it, the Boko Haram would have probably been defeated by now.”

He further noted that the three frontline states were still under the siege of insurgents despite the boast of President Muhammadu Buhari to defeat them within three months of his presidency.

What is more, he said, insecurity had expanded to virtually every part of the country with armed banditry in Sokoto, Zamfara and Kaduna axis besides kidnapping and the farmers-herders clashes. Nigerians are no longer safe in their homes, streets and work places, he said.

Worse still, he said, the security agencies have been working at cross-purposes without synergy yet, nobody is calling them to order.

The aspirant who stressed that PDP lost the 2015 presidential election despite the legacy projects provided across the country, noted that the party had learned from its mistakes and is now ready to provide Nigerians with the salvation needed desperately now.