Former Military Head of State, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (IBB) has expressed regrets that the Nigeria he is seeing today falls short of his expectations and that of all those who paid the supreme price for the country to remain one indivisible entity.

Babangida said nobody would like to see Nigeria go through another civil war hence those in leadership position should be conscious of their actions and inactions to avoid a repeat of certain build ups that led to the breakout down of law and order that culminated into the Nigeria-Biafran civil war of 1967.

Former President Babangida in a live programme on Channels TV traced most of the post-independence problems that culminated into the civil war to include; lack of clear cut political orientation as many of the ethnic nationalities barely agreed or understood with one another on the way forward.

Now that Nigerians have advanced in both age and political wisdom, Babangida challenged leaders to avoid the mistakes of the past by ensuring that policies that would not include every segments of the country were avoided or discarded for peace to reign.

Former President Babangida explained that, continued existence of Nigeria is non-negotiable as history will not judge him and many of his compatriots who fought the Nigerian Biafra war, particularly those who lost their lives if they fail to protect what they gave their lives for.

According to him, “Unity of Nigeria is an article of faith among my generation, we would be unfair for those who died during the Nigeria Biafra war during which millions and thousands were killed for the sake of this country”.

Babangida also spoke about the neglect of federal character, accorded more recognition and power over others, this he said breeds disenchantments and therefore wants the federal government to do the needful by avoiding certain mistakes that could ignite crisis.

“You cannot come and convince me that this country will break. I won’t talk to you for a long time, me and my generation and below me will not allow this country to collapse”, Babangida said as he reminded leaders that every citizen deserved equal rights to the national cake.

The former President however said one of the things he would have done which he could not do before leaving office was to put in place a strong policy for a two party state which if he had done wouldn’t have created so much confusion in Nigeria’s democratic space.

Babangida said he would have expected to see more commitments on the part of those in leadership positions geared towards building one strong Nigeria said with all things being equal, “There is everything to be proud of being a Nigerian”. (Daily Independent)

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