Who Else Is Better In Fighting Corruption? By Ibrahim Babangida

Former Military President Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (IBB) has identified attributes of his ideal President in 2023.

He said the next President must speak to the citizens, understand the nation’s economy and have friends in every region.

Babangida, disclosed this while speaking with Arise TV during an interview on Friday monitored by The Nation.

Babangida said he has seen Nigerians who have the qualities and they are in their sixties.

“If you get a good leadership that links with the people and tries to talk with the people; not talking on top of the people, then we would be okay

“I have started visualising a good Nigerian leader. That is, a person who travels across the country and has a friend virtually everywhere he travels to, and he knows at least one person that he can communicate with.

“That is a person, who is very versed in economics and is also a good politician, who should be able to talk to Nigerians and so on. I have seen one, or two or three of such persons already in his sixties. I believe so if we can get him.”

He further said competence above ethnicity should be of utmost importance when choosing the next President.

“Either we want to practise democracy the way it should be practised or we define democracy on our own whims and caprices,” he said.

“If we are going to do it the way it is done all over the world, you allow the process to continue.

“It is through the process that you will come up with a candidate that will rule the country. His beliefs and qualifications should be considered before he throws his hat into the ring, regardless of where he comes from.”

Speaking on corruption in relation to how military leaders and civilian leaders tackled it, he said: “Well on that, you can’t compare it with the facts on the ground now. You can say it. From what I read, from analysis, I think we are saints when compared to what is happening under a democratic dispensation.

“I sacked a Governor for misappropriating less than N313,000.

“Today, those who have stolen billions and are in court are now parading themselves on the streets. Who else is better in fighting corruption?”