In a response to recent claims, former Military President General Ibrahim Babangida has firmly denied any support for military rule over democratic governance. Issuing a statement through his media office in Minna, signed by Mahmud Abdullahi, Babangida reaffirmed his steadfast commitment to democracy and called upon Nigerians to uphold and ensure its success.
The statement was prompted by false assertions originating from a parody account on social media, which inaccurately attributed remarks favoring military rule to Babangida. Clarifying the situation, the statement emphasized that the account in question, @General_Ibbro on X (formerly Twitter), does not belong to Babangida nor does he endorse any content published there.
“It is regrettable that this dubious account, using our principal’s image and the Nigerian coat of arms, continues to mislead the public,” the statement clarified. Highlighting previous incidents where the account spread misinformation during elections, it underscored Babangida’s consistent stance in supporting democratic processes.
Regarding the recent misleading statement allegedly from Babangida, which claimed that “Nigeria thrived best under military rule and democracy worsened conditions,” the statement categorically denied these assertions. “We wish to unequivocally state that neither the Twitter nor X account, which operates as a parody, nor the statements therein, have any affiliation with the retired General,” the statement affirmed.
Affirming Babangida’s unwavering support for democracy, the statement stressed, “General Babangida believes in the resilience of Nigeria’s democratic system and insists on safeguarding its progress. He has consistently advocated that our nation’s challenges are best addressed through enhanced democratic practices.”
The statement further praised the Nigerian military for upholding civilian administrations since 1999, marking the longest period of uninterrupted democratic governance since independence. It lamented the challenges in addressing the misuse of parody accounts on social media platforms, urging the public to disregard any misleading posts purportedly attributed to Babangida.
In conclusion, the statement called upon media practitioners and social media users to verify information before sharing purported statements from former President Babangida, emphasizing the importance of accuracy and responsible sharing in the digital age.
Follow Globaltrust.ng for more stories.
