IBB congratulates Buhari on re-election, advises Atiku

Ibrahim Babangida (IBB), Nigeria’s former military president, has congratulated President Muhammadu Buhari on his re-election for second term.

Okay Nigeria reported that INEC declared Muhammadu Buhari as the winner of the just concluded presidential election.

Babangida congratulated the president in a statement made available to Okay Nigeria on Saturday in Minna, Niger state.

He said that the insecurity of lives and property is one of the most urgent problem confronting the nation as the Boko Haram insurgency remains a threat to many Nigerians particularly in the North East sub region adding that kidnapping and armed banditry remain a national menace.

The statement reads, “Now that the President has won his re-election bid, he should confront with renewed vigour the most urgent problem confronting Nigeria: ‘insecurity of lives and property’.

“The Boko Haram insurgency remains a threat to many Nigerians particularly in the North East sub region, whiles the twin evils of kidnapping and armed robbery/armed banditry remain a major national menace. The president must pay priority attention to these security issues.”

IBB further called on the president to look focus on the economy of the country which needs his urgent attention.

“There is the need to be more creative in formulating policies that will improve the nation’s economy, create employment opportunities and give hope to our teaming youths.

Babangida also advised Buhari to resist the temptation to see his co-contestants as enemies along him to work at healing the wounds of campaign exchanges.

“The newly elected president should heal the wounds of the heated campaign exchanges by embracing those who contested alongside with him. The President must resist the temptation to see them as enemies; not even opponents, but fellow compatriots who merely disagreed with him on how best to move our country forward.”

He, however, called on Atiku Abubakar, the former vice president who contested against Buhari to work hand in hand with the president-elect to move the country forward.

“I was particularly impressed with the gallant and audacious spirit of the main challenger in the presidential race, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar GCON.