‘Please count me out of Interim Government’ , says IBB

Former military president, General Ibrahim Babangida has said that he should be counted out of any talks or plot to install any Interim Government in Nigeria.

He said in a statement issued by his Media office that it has become necessary to make his stand clear to avoid unwarranted cynicisms usually promoted by naysayers, alarmists and political apologists to score cheap political mileage.

According to the former military president, "To state the obvious, let it be on record that I am not in any way connected with alleged 'plans' to encourage, promote, orchestrate or moot, the idea of an interim government or whatever contraption so-called.

"I did state categorically in 2011 that I was quitting partisan politics and wouldn’t want to be ordered around in any way or form as seeking public office in whatever guise. I took that decision when I attained the age of 70 and I stand by that decision till date."

Babangida further said, "Having been privileged to preside over the affairs of this great country for eight unbroken years as a military President, I can declare with all sense of modesty that I have seen it all. And I give all praises and thanks to the Almighty Allah for giving me the rare opportunity to contribute my quota to the development of my fatherland.
"That opportunity remains my highest, most enduring moment in my entire trajectory through life’s bramble forest."

According to Babangida, "When we introduced the idea of an interim government during our time as a military government, we had in mind to enthrone a democratic government in the shortest possible time in sync with the agitations of the people, after the inconclusive elections of 1993.

"That was a stop-gap measure because we were determined to quit office at the set date of August 27, 1993. Having left office since 1993 and with the benefit of hindsight,
I think what we did was auspicious enough to reassure our people that we were ready to leave office and keep the country going."