‘Buhari Will Put Nigeria Back On Sound Economic, Social Footing’ – IBB

IBB1Former military President Gen. Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (rtd) has expressed confidence in the ability of President Muhammadu Buhari to pull Nigeria out from the woods and put her back on a sound economic and social footing.

The former military president described the Buhari administration as focused, having identified the problems plaguing the country and strategising on how best to proffer enduring solutions to them.
Mr. Babangida gave the assessment yesterday at a news conference to mark the anniversary of his 74th birthday.

He spoke at his Hilltop residence in Minna, Niger State.

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He said: “I am confident that they (the government) are doing well. They have identified the problems and they look resolute in confronting these problems head-on and there are a lot of people in the society who are offering a lot of sound advice on how to move the country forward and are not relenting.

“I must commend the present leadership for identifying even before and after the election some of the problems facing this country. We should support the President towards achieving these objectives of ensuring security, wiping out corruption and economic development”.

The former Nigerian leader applauded President Buhari’s efforts at recovering the nation’s commonwealth cornered by some top shots in the immediate past administration and urged the government to pursue the policy resolutely to achieve the desired result.

He recalled that similar efforts during the President Olusegun Obasanjo administration yielded positive results as the country made a lot of recoveries then.

On the war against terror, the gap-toothed general said that the Federal Government must fight Boko Haram and tackle other militant groups head-on and stamp terrorism, even as he cautioned against negotiating with wrong leaders of the outlawed sect.

Gen. Babangida called for public understanding of government policies and programmes at a time he described as a “trying period for the nation”.

“The people and the government must come together. People should support the government and government too should come up with solutions to ameliorate the problem that every government faces”, he advised.

The anniversary of Babangida’s birthday will be marked today with a special prayer session billed to be attended by his immediate family members and few of his close associates.