• Says ‘Nigeria is under pressure and needs rescue
Former Military President, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida has said that
the mistakes of the past are still haunting Nigeria, noting that the country is
now under pressure and needs rescue efforts.
“Some of the mistakes of the past have now come to haunt us. But
let me make one thing clear. Not all these mistakes were made out of
callousness or bad faith or malice.
“Most people in office do their best. They act to the best of
their ability. Unless we think that our leaders have divine ability, we have to
admit that even with all the best of their abilities and even with the best
faith and with the best of all intentions, human beings will still make
mistakes,” he said.
Babangida, who stated this yesterday in Lagos during the
presentation of two books in honour of former Minister of Foreign Affairs,
Prof. Bolaji Akinyemi, said that other countries that Nigerians are looking up
to have passed through similar mistakes and challenges before.
He added that if other countries could surmount their
challenges, definitely Nigeria will also do.
“As other countries have overcome the mistakes in their history
and moved on, so we Nigerians also have cause to rejoice that even though in
our history we have met with obstacles, we have experienced ups and downs, each
generation had sought to the best of its ability to tackle these obstacles.
That we are still a united nation is sufficient cause for congratulation,” he
noted
The former military ruler noted that Nigeria is faced with so
much pressure across the land. His words: “From the creeks in the Niger Delta
to the sahelian areas of the North, the country is under pressure. Now is the
time for us to regard the rescue efforts as a joint enterprise to secure
maximum benefits for all and not an enterprise to secure temporary advantage
for one group over another.
“We need to arrive at a grand consensus that will move this
nation forward rather than a panel-beaten system that satisfies no one except
the temporary holders of power.”
He charged Nigerians to come together and make the ‘Project
Nigeria’ a success, despite all the travails and challenges the country is
facing,
“Our problems are not over. Nation building is not like an
electric switch which one can turn on and off. It is a continuous process which
makes a heavy demand on government and the people,” the former military ruler
said.
Babangida also spoke on the predictions that Nigeria will
break-up in 2014.
His words: “As Nigerians, we are aware of the great doubts that
have been cast about what 2014 portends for the continuing existence of our
nation. I am aware that Nigerians have taken great umbrage at these predictions.
Even Lord Lugard who founded what has been called Nigeria gave it a life-span
of 100 years. I regard it as a challenge to our intelligence to ensure that
these portends and prophesies do not become self-fulfilling.
“We should engage these predictions on an intellectual level,
testing whether the facts justify the conclusions.
“But on a practical and public policy level, we must import
honesty into our public policy assessment. First, we must identify the problems
that need to be addressed. Secondly, we must address these problems honestly.
Thirdly, we must identify the most current and the most appropriate mechanism
for addressing these issues.
“Let me make this clear. My position is not dictated by the fact
that foreigners are making these predictions. We don’t even need foreigner
sources as a reference point. The Nigerian media is awash with alarming news
about our problems.
“My position is dictated by my conviction that Nigeria is
precious enough to be saved. It deserves an investment of our time and
resources to make Project Nigeria a success. But the starting point has to be
an admission that we need to fix things.”
Source: National Mirror
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