Former military president, Ibrahim Babangida has disowned a statement which Kassim Afegbua, his spokesman, issued on his behalf on Sunday.
At exactly 2:03pm, Afegbua sent out the statement with the title: “Press statement from General IBB on 2019 election”.
The statement was well circulated on media platforms.
But hours later, another statement was issued.
The statement personally signed by Babangida reads; “It has been drawn to my attention a press statement on the state of the nation, particularly 2019 general elections and beyond.
“Let me categorically state that as former President and Statesman, I have unfettered channel of communication with the highest authorities without sensational public correspondence, therefore those views expressed over there are personal views of the writer.”
Babangida however expressed worry that political events and civil unrest in many part of the country, has raised many questions on governance and unity.
“It will be recalled, that in my message to this year’s Armed Forces Remembrance Day, I specifically expressed the dire need for proactive measures to stop farmers/herders clashes in the middle belt, Cattle rustling, armed robbery, Kidnapping, gangsterism and cultism. Our security agencies have to step up surveillance with more efforts on intelligence gathering for maximum success, he added.
The former president described as alarming recent happenings and utterances by political gladiators which he said are not in the interest of common man.
“Despite all these challenges, I am optimistic that the political actors will play within the ambits of political norms and decorum to ameliorate the problems facing our society now.
“The clamour for re-alignment of governance in the country as we are approaching 2019 election year is a welcome development only if the agitations are genuinely channeled through legislation and total supremacy of the constitution, he added”.
Speaking further, he said any attempt outside this circle of democratic tenants is deceptive and divisive idea capable of plunging our political journey into disarray.
“As students of history, we are aware that many advanced democracies have two distinct ideological political parties, with a handful of smaller political parties that serve as buffer whenever any of the known political parties derailed or became unpopular. I still believe in two party systems as the best option for Nigeria.
“It is high time that, we dialogue more on any issue in order to have a political solution on any problem affecting us. It is sad that, Nigeria had its fair share of conflicts, and we cannot continue to fall back to those dark years of bloodshed.
“As a people, now is the time to come together to address all communal conflicts and criminality under any guise to further unite the country in line with the vision of our founding fathers so that as a nation, we can forge ahead in the task of building a more prosperous nation.”
…ex-president authorised statement, spokesman insists
Kassim Afegbua, the spokesman of General Ibrahim Babangida, has insisted that the former military president approved the statement he issued, calling on Nigerians to vote out President Muhammadu Buhari in 2019.
Afegbua in a telephone conversation with newsmen yesterday, maintained that IBB has not denied the statement.
“The statement is in order. IBB did not hold any press conference in Minna. It was overzealous people that issued that statement of his denial. I wouldn’t issue any statement without his approval. Go ahead with the statement. I have spoken with him and he said he has not recanted the statement,” he said.
Babangida in a press statement released on Sunday by Afegbua, urged Buhari to sacrifice his personal ambition for national interest, while calling on Nigerians to vote out Buhari in 2019.
However, hours later another statement was circulated by press release distribution agency, PRNigeria, claiming that IBB has disowned the earlier statement issued by his media aide.
“Let me categorically state that as former President and Statesman, I have unfettered channel of communication with the highest authorities without sensational public correspondence, therefore those views expressed over there are personal views of the writer,” IBB was quoted in the statement.
…IGP orders arrest of media aide
The Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris has reportedly ordered the arrest of the media aide to former president Ibrahim Babangida, Prince Kassim Afegbua for the statement he issued on behalf of his principal.
This issuance of the warrant of arrest was disclosed by a Presidency source on Sunday.
Afegbua in a statement purportedly issued on Sunday on behalf of Babangida, had quoted the former President as saying that President Muhammadu Buhari should not seek for reelection in 2019.
But the former President, in a swift reaction, denied issuing such a statement.
He called on Nigerians to disregard the earlier statement by Afegbua.
The Presidency source, who does not want his name in print, said that the IGP has ordered for the arrest of Kassim Afegbua for allegedly issuing a fake statement.
Afegbua was advised to submit himself to the force headquarters within 24 hours or face arrest.
The media aide has however insisted that he had the permission of the former president to issue the statement credited to him.
