Babangida defends Buhari

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 said, 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”.