Former military president,
General Ibrahim Babangida, has warned against continued use of the military in
providing security during elections.
Babangida issued the warning in
an interview with newsmen in his Hill Top Mansion in Minna, Niger State, to
mark his 73rd birthday, which comes up tomorrow.
President Goodluck Jonathan, as
the Commander- in-Chief, has developed a template for providing security during
elections using soldiers along with other security forces.
He did this in the governorship
elections in Anambra, Edo, Ekiti and, last week, in Osun states.
Some opposition parties have been
kicking against the practice which they have described as antithetical to
democratic ethos.
According to General Babangida,
continued usage of soldiers in election duties would not be in the interest of
anyone including even the military itself, which he said could soon be
compromised as was done with the police.
“I don’t believe the military
should supervise elections. I don’t believe they should participate in them...I
was already an officer in the Nigerian Army in the 60s and there was no
military presence in the streets in those days but the police. I think it is
high time we restored the glory of the force.
“I am not sure military guys
should be involved in these civic duties. It cannot continue like this. I don’t
believe the military guys should be seen on the streets,” Babangida warned.
He argued that political leaders
should be equal to the challenge of elections, even where the task appears
complex.
“Up till date, there are places
that you need logistical support by the political leaders. For example, there
are boats in the creeks of the Niger Delta. The boats can access remote
villages and townships in that region, not the road, during the
elections.
“So, I can see a government that
would say okay, if you go to villages in the creeks and we have boats that can
get in there, you can ask those people operating the boats to use their boats
in ferrying ballot boxes to such places that cannot be easily accessed through
the roads and that is perfectly okay. But I don’t believe the military guys
should be seen on the streets,” Babangida said.
Tags
Politics
Babangida should keep his advise please. No single person has contributed so much to the Nigerian predicament as he has. How should quietly age and let Nigeria self-correct.
ReplyDeleteBabangida should keep his advise please. No single person has contributed so much to the Nigerian predicament as he has. He should quietly age and let Nigeria self-correct.
DeleteIt's good we understand the man, using the military now would devalue their glory. And they'll start taking kickback and front like the Egunje police we have today
ReplyDelete