TheCable

Former military President Ibrahim Babangida says President Muhammadu Buhari needs the support of the people to succeed.

Addressing reporters in Minna, Niger state capital, on Tuesday, the Nigerian leader expressed confidence that the security challenge would be brought under control “very soon”.

He asked Nigerians to support Buhari in his second term in order to make the fight against insecurity successful.

“What is required now is for Nigerians to rally round the president to enable him provide adequate security and good leadership.” he said.

“The people’s support will help the president to succeed; he needs everyone’s cooperation to trudge on to success.

“Peace remains a pre-requisite for any meaningful development. We must all seek it, crave for it and work for it.”

When congratulating Buhari after his re-election in February, Babangida had pointed to insecurity as the “most urgent problem confronting Nigeria”.

He had advised the president to make the fight against insecurity a priority in his second term.

“Now that the President has won his reelection bid, he should confront with renewed vigour the most urgent problem confronting Nigeria,” he had said.

“The Boko Haram insurgency remains a threat to many Nigerians particularly in the North East sub region, while the twin evils of kidnapping and armed robbery/armed banditry also remains a major national menace. The president must pay priority attention to these security issues.”