Former military president, General Ibrahim Babangida (rtd), deliberately wanted to court controversy with his comments on President Muhammadu Buhari, Atiku Abubakar and Bola Tinubu.
Naija News reports that this is the position of an associate professor of Political Sociology, University of Abuja, Dr Abubakar Umar Kari.
IBB, as Babangida is popularly known, had during an interview with AriseTV tackled Buhari, Atiku and Tinubu.
Speaking to DailyTrust, Kari stated that IBB was aware that his positions on all the issues raised were highly debatable and contestable and it would definitely ruffle feathers.
“But then, the IBB of today is too old hence can afford to take a swipe at anyone,” he said.
“Some of the things he said are in keeping with his spirited efforts at any given opportunity to defend some actions he took or failed to take, which have come to define his much-vilified administration.”
President Buhari
The associate professor added that Babangida’s excuse for annulling the June 12, 1993 presidential election is not to be believed.
According to him, IBB’s claim “that corruption is worse under democratic leaders smacks of an attempt to counter those who accuse him of institutionalising graft.
“The claim was a direct hit on President Buhari’s anti-corruption credentials, which have been badly dented, particularly in recent times.”
Atiku & Tinubu
The don stated that he was not surprised that the former military President took a swipe at the presidential hopefuls.
Umar Kari pointed out that while in power, the retired General promoted the philosophy of “new-breedism.”
“He serially banned those he dismissed as old politicians from vying for elective positions under the two parties he founded and funded while in power.
“His position may also be in sync with his known populist posturing. He is aware that many Nigerians yearn for a generational change and a clean break from the old guard that Atiku and Tinubu represent,” he added.
This article was originally published on Nigeria News