Only a stupid soldier will think of a coup - IBB declares
Tue Jan 14, 2020 09:24:am National
1.9K By Afam Jude Offor
Nigeria's former military president, General Ibrahim Babaginda (Rtd), has made a stunning revelation about the era of coup d’états in the country. IBB, who was the military president between 1985 and 1993, maintained that the era of coup d’états has fast left Nigeria, adding that only a stupid soldier can think of such a move now. Channels TV reports that IBB said a lot has been done to get the ideology of coups out of soldiers' heads because it is no longer acceptable globally and regionally.
Babangida who spoke on Channels Television Newsnight programme noted that his generation would use everything possible to make sure that the country remains united. He said: “I can tell you now that only a stupid soldier will think of a coup d’état because this is outside their head, it is no longer in their psyche, it is no longer acceptable in Africa and in the world generally, so he is intelligent enough to know that if he stages a coup, the country will be ostracised in the world community of nations, there can be an uprising in your own country, so it’s no longer fashionable.” The former military president explained that for the country to move forward, the selection of leaders is very critical. He stressed that for a leader to be picked; a lot needs to be considered, including his thought pattern towards keeping the country united. “The whole thing depends on the leadership selection; one of the things I would have loved to see is if you want to pick a leader, you should be able to access his thought about the country, the unity, he will not jeopardize it, try to use everything within his powers legitimately to make sure that the country remains one. Our selection of leadership is the most important thing; political, military and economic leadership. Once this is strong, and everybody in this sector believes in this country, I think we won’t have a problem," he said. IBB further stressed that his generation and the next, have held on to the unity of the country and that is what makes them qualified to move the country towards the required objective. “My generation is committed and they will use everything possible; apply logic, advice, talks just to make sure that the country remains united. You cannot convince me that this country should break; I wouldn’t talk to you for a long time because I know people died trying to keep the country one, so my generation will insist this country remains one. “There are 200 million people in this country and there are some people in my generation and the one after mine, who will always believe in this country and those generations, will move this country towards the required objective," IBB added. He emphasised that his generation saw the unity of the country as an article of faith among and they don’t plan to see the country go through another civil war. “Nobody will like to see this country disintegrated because we will be unfair to those who put their lives on the line and died for the purpose of keeping the country one," he noted.
Babangida who spoke on Channels Television Newsnight programme noted that his generation would use everything possible to make sure that the country remains united. He said: “I can tell you now that only a stupid soldier will think of a coup d’état because this is outside their head, it is no longer in their psyche, it is no longer acceptable in Africa and in the world generally, so he is intelligent enough to know that if he stages a coup, the country will be ostracised in the world community of nations, there can be an uprising in your own country, so it’s no longer fashionable.” The former military president explained that for the country to move forward, the selection of leaders is very critical. He stressed that for a leader to be picked; a lot needs to be considered, including his thought pattern towards keeping the country united. “The whole thing depends on the leadership selection; one of the things I would have loved to see is if you want to pick a leader, you should be able to access his thought about the country, the unity, he will not jeopardize it, try to use everything within his powers legitimately to make sure that the country remains one. Our selection of leadership is the most important thing; political, military and economic leadership. Once this is strong, and everybody in this sector believes in this country, I think we won’t have a problem," he said. IBB further stressed that his generation and the next, have held on to the unity of the country and that is what makes them qualified to move the country towards the required objective. “My generation is committed and they will use everything possible; apply logic, advice, talks just to make sure that the country remains united. You cannot convince me that this country should break; I wouldn’t talk to you for a long time because I know people died trying to keep the country one, so my generation will insist this country remains one. “There are 200 million people in this country and there are some people in my generation and the one after mine, who will always believe in this country and those generations, will move this country towards the required objective," IBB added. He emphasised that his generation saw the unity of the country as an article of faith among and they don’t plan to see the country go through another civil war. “Nobody will like to see this country disintegrated because we will be unfair to those who put their lives on the line and died for the purpose of keeping the country one," he noted.
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