Nigerian Former Military President, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida has said that the policing of election processes should be left to the police and that the military have no business in the process. The former head of state stated this yesterday while fielding questions from newsmen at his uphill residence in Minna, Niger State, on the occasion of his 73rd birthday coming up tomorrow. Babangida said with a well trained and well-equipped police force, elections could be held in the country without any rancour. “I don’t believe that the military should supervise elections because I don’t believe it should participate. A peep into the Nigeria Police Force, which is the closest to the people, is capable of doing so if the government is able to train them, they will be able to handle any situation,” the former leader said. “I was already an officer in the Nigerian Army in the 60s and there were no military presence (during elections) in those days except the Nigeria Police and I think it is high time we restored the past glory of the force. But I think it is again, what the developing countries face,” he added.


According to reports from Daily Trust, IBB argued that the military could only be used in electoral processes in circumstances for giving logistical support, citing the case of Niger Delta, which has a difficult terrain.



“You can ask those people (military) operating the boats to use their boats in ferrying ballot boxes to such places that cannot be easily accessed through the road and that is perfectly okay. But pertinently, I don’t believe the military guys should be seen on the streets,” Babangida stated. On President Goodluck Jonathan’s unconfirmed ambition to seek a second term in 2015, the ex-military leader said the president is free to contest for any position likeany other Nigerian, adding that whoever is occupying such an office would be willing to seek re-election. “Well, if you were in his shoes, wouldn’t you want to come back if you are there? If you belief in what you are doing and you are doing well, why shouldn’t you? I think what is lacking is what I have always referred to as voter education, the level of understanding, the level of belief is still below what we expect,” he said

Read more at TODAY: http://www.today.ng/politics/military-have-no-business-with-elections-ibb/

The problem is trying to educate anything PDP is like trying to send an slowpoke to uni.

This one wey IBB dey talk na theory.

Nigerian situation warrants the army getting involved in the election.

A peep into
the Nigeria Police Force, which
is the closest to the people, is
capable of doing so if the
government is able to train
them, they will be able to
handle any situation,” the
former leader said.

the fact still remains that our police are not well trained.
Should we now leave the fate of the nigerian sensitive electoral processes in the hands of the ill-trained police?

Ibb too has an opinion. The same person that annulled the best election Nigeria ever had. Good riddance to bad rubbish.

If anyone should be talking of credibility of an election,it shouldn't be IBB. He is just a bloody hypocrite!

saxywale: Ibb too has an opinion. The same person that annulled the best election Nigeria evr had. Good riddance to bad rubbish.

My brother let's move on, 21years gone now and the main actor is now lecturing us how to go about our elections now.

MzJackBaueress: If anyone should be talking of credibility of an election,it shouldn't be IBB. He is just a bloody hypocrite!

he isn't a bloody hypocrite, he only has a hypocritic blood.

MzJackBaueress: If anyone should be talking of credibility of an election,it shouldn't be IBB. He is just a bloody hypocrite!

Doesn't take anything away from the message! Even a thief can as well, advise one to stay away from crime, because of his/her own experience! Don't comment like the usual suspects here.

NgeneUkwenu:

Doesn't take anything away from the message! Even a thief can as well, advise one to stay away from crime, because of his/her own experience! Don't comment like the usual suspects here.

I love the message but dislike the messenger. I can't change that!

Under Jonathan, the military has been too damn exposed to the civilian population giving rise to incessant abuse of civil rights!

IBB might not be a saint, but one can't really take away the fact that he keeps making very valid points whenever he speaks!!

I expect them to tag him a Boko Haram sponsor now that his opinion doesn't seem to tally with theirs.

Nice one Maradona!! We may love or hate you all we want, but we can't deny the fact we admire your intelligence!

RockMaxi:

My brother let's move on, 21years gone now and the main actor is now lecturing us how to go about our elections now.

yeah...the same man that got Nigeria to this mess. The same man that took corruption to a whole new level in Nigeria. still good riddance to bad rubbish.

NgeneUkwenu:

Doesn't take anything away from the message! Even a thief can as well, advise one to stay away from crime, because of his/her own experience! Don't comment like the usual suspects here.

Mr she-male the. Military are there to kill a disgusting creation like you.
Ozu nwuluawu
Your opinion counts to only the fools like you so go and do surgery or forever become a she-male
You are irrelevant to many

GO
AND
DIE

My question to all those who oppose the deployment od security personnel during elections is this,

which of these is preferable in nation like Nigeria where politics is do or die?

A. Ballot box snatching, maiming, arson, murder because politicians are running the show.

B. Peaceful elections because, because security personnels are running the show.