Former military president, Gen. Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (IBB), has implored Nigerians to have confidence in the ability of President Muhammadu Buhari to tackle the wave of rising insecurity in the country, saying he was confident Nigeria would soon overcome its security challenges.
IBB, who spoke with newsmen after the state acting Governor, Ahmad Muhammad Ketso, and the Emir of Minna, Dr Umar Farouq Bahago, paid him Sallah homage at his uphill residence in Minna, the state capital, on Tuesday, expressed optimism that the Buhari administration would tackle and end the killings and kidnappings and banditry in some parts of the country “very soon”.
“The president has promised to combat insecurity and I believe he will do so. We need to support the government and the security agencies. We should give valuable information to the security agencies about the locations of criminals among us,” he said.
“What is required now is for Nigerians to rally round the President to enable him to provide adequate security and good leadership. The people’s support will help the President to succeed; he needs everyone’s cooperation to trudge on to success,” he said.
He stressed the need for Nigerians to remain peaceful and pray for peace to reign in the country, noting that no meaningful development could take place in a chaotic environment. “Peace remains a pre-requisite for any meaningful development. We must all seek it, crave for it and work for it,” he said.
In his remarks, the state acting governor, Alhaji Ketso, said the state government would continue to invest in projects that would ensure peaceful coexistence of the people, which he said, would also translate to the economic growth of the state. Ketso lauded the efforts of security agencies in the state, which according to him, has brought about the relative peace. The acting governor assured their host that the Next Level administration in the state will build on the gains recorded in its first term.
Earlier, the acting governor and Emir Bahago had led hundreds of Muslims to the prayer ground in Minna to offer prayers to Allah for the successful completion of Ramadan during which Muslims abstained from eating and drinking in the day time. The prayer was led by the Chief Imam of Minna Alhaji Abu Fari. He offered prayers for the peace and progress of the state and country.
