Inspector-general of police orders arrest of Babangida's spokesman as IBB distances himself from it

INSPECTOR-general of police Ibrahim Idris has ordered the arrest of former military dictator General Ibrahim Babangida's spokesman Prince Kassim Afegbua after he published a statement asking President Muhammadu Buhari not to run for a second term.

In a lengthy public statement issued on behalf of General Babangida over the weekend, Prince Afegbua said President Buhari should put Nigeria above any personal interests and not stand for re-election nest year. However, the statement has landed him in a lot of trouble as not as General Babangida distanced himself from it, the head of the police has asked him to turn himself in within 24 hours.

Mr Idris ordered the arrest of Prince Afegbua should he fail to turn himself up within 24 hours for issuing a fake statement. General Babangida denied making the statement and issued another one which he personally signed but Prince Afegbua insisted that the one he issued as the authentic.

In the statement he personally signed and released from Minna through one of his aides, Mahmud Abdullahi, General Babangida warned against a gang-up outside law and order. He said any realignment of forces for the 2019 elections must be within democratic tenets.

Although he did not mention any group, General Babangida’s statement appeared to be a subtle response to the recourse to the formation of groups against President Buhari’s re-election. One of such groups is former president Chief resident Olusegun Obasanjo’s Coalition for Nigeria Movement (CNM).

General Babangida  insisted that only a two-party system is the best for the country and recommended the fusion of parties to serve as a strong opposition to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). He also called for proactive measures to stop farmers/herders clashes in the Middle Belt, cattle rustling, armed robbery, kidnapping, gangsterism and cultism in other parts of the country.

Furthermore, General Babangida disowned the Prince Afegbua statement, saying since he had unfettered access to the highest authorities in the country, there was no way he would have written a sensational statement. He, however, said it was worrisome that political events and civil unrest in many parts of the country had raised many questions on the governance and unity of the nation.

“Recent happenings and utterances by political gladiators are alarming and not in the interest of common man that is already overstretched and apparently living from hand to mouth due to precarious economic conditions. 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.

”I am a realist that believes in all issues in a democratic atmosphere are sincerely discussed and resolved in the spirit of give-and-take. Since after my military years that metamorphosed to being the only military president in the history of Nigeria and my civilian life, I always have one clear objective that freedom can only be achieved through democracy," General Babangida added.

He cautioned against hate speeches and divisive statements by political gladiators. General Babangida's son added that his father would not issue a statement without reading thorough it thoroughly to ensure that it represents his opinion.

He said Prince Afegbua was not authorised to issue that statement purportedly on behalf of his father. In addition, he added that Prince Afegbua was told to withdraw it but he declined and instead insisted it was authentic.