BY LINUS CHIBUIKE
FORMER Military President of Nigeria, Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida, has said that competence should be valued above ethnicity in deciding who rules the country in 2023.
He said democracy should be practised the way it should be practised, wondering whether Nigeria would rather define democracy on its own whims and caprices.
IBB also identified qualities that the next Nigerian President should possess, saying that a good leader should talk with the people and not talk “on top of the people.”
He made these positions public in an interview with Arise TV on Friday.
IBB said, “If you get a good leadership that links with the people and tries to talk with the people; not talking on top of the people, then we would be okay.
“I have started visualising a good Nigerian leader. That is, a person who travels across the country and has a friend virtually everywhere he travels to, and he knows at least one person that he can communicate with.”
The former Nigerian President said he had seen one or two Nigerians who possessed qualities he outlined, noting that they were in their 60s.
“That is a person, who is very versed in economics and is also a good politician, who should be able to talk to Nigerians and so on. I have seen one, or two or three of such persons already in (their) sixties. I believe so if we can get him,” he said.
“It is through the process that you will come up with a candidate that will rule the country. His beliefs and qualifications should be considered before he throws his hat into the ring, regardless of where he comes from,” IBB added.
On corruption, Babangida noted that it seemed they, as leaders, were saints, compared to what was currently happening under a democratic government.
“Well, on that, you can’t compare it with the facts on the ground now. From what I read, from analysis, I think we are saints when compared to what is happening under a democratic dispensation. I sacked a Governor for misappropriating less than N313,000,” he said.
“Today, those who have stolen billions and are in court are now parading themselves on the streets. Who else is better in fighting corruption?” he asked.
