Babangida Defends Buhari, Warns Against Ridiculing The Army

Former military President General
Ibrahim Babangida yesterday rose in
defence of the APC presidential
candidate, General Muhammadu
Buhari, on the genuineness of his
secondary school certificate.

Gen. Babangida warned that any
attempt to politicise the military
would not be in the nation’s interest.
“It is a very dangerous thing to do,” he told The Nation in an interview in
Minna.

He said there was no way Buhari
would have risen to the rank of a
general in the army without
possessing the basic educational
qualification.

Babangida, who was reacting to the
controversy sparked by the certificate in an exclusive interview, said the army, as an institution, subjects all its intakes to proper scrutiny, training and re-training.

He was shocked at the heat generated by the issue and advised those who feel aggrieved to go to court.

He warned that the military should
not be ridiculed as it remains,in his
opinion, the only institution of
national unity and that it is passionate about acquisition of knowledge by its officers.

His words:”The military is one
institution that believes in constant
learning and training. You receive the initial training from the Staff College.

After one year, you go for another
round of intensive training that is all
encompassing.

“It is one institution that is concerned about knowledge, even in warfare.

The military requires you to keep
abreast of development in warfare,
weaponry and education.

“Perhaps, military is the best
institution that is concerned about
training and knowledge and about
discipline because no officer is
considered for promotion without
having the prerequisite qualification
and must pass the required
examinations”.

He cautioned the political class to
desist from politicising the military,
pointing out that any such attempt will be dangerous for the institution and the nation.

“The military remains the institution
of unity. I will not support the idea of
politicising the military,” he said.

The former military leader was,
however, full of confidence that the
military will strive to keep above the
scheming of the politicians “as it is
capable and will resist any undue
attempt to influence it.

“This is nothing but politics. I think
those aggrieved should know what to do. Anybody who feels aggrieved
should go to court and let the court
make a pronouncement that will settle everything”.

Source:- The Nation