Lagos – Former military president, Ibrahim Babangida and other former military leaders who are still alive should apologise to Nigerians for contributing negatively to the present state of the country, Prof. Itse Sagay (SAN), Chairman of the Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption (PACAC) has said.
Speaking in a chat with Daily Independent on the occasion of Nigeria’s 59thIndependence anniversary, Sagay said Babangida not only legitimised corruption during his reign but also encouraged other Nigerians to see it as a way of life.
“Definitely past military leaders should apologise. Nigerians deserve apologies from them given the way they mismanaged the country. I believe that Ibrahim Babangida is really one of those who brought this country down. He was the one who legitimised corruption”.
“He made it legitimate and an acceptable way of life. He didn’t see anything wrong in being corrupt and he allowed people to do it. Seeing this, others also joined them and the civilians carried on”.
“Of course, the endless processes of return to civil rule that he had, which he kept on canceling and the June 12 election, all that contributed to the travails we are suffering now. So, former military rulers who are alive should apologise for putting this country into where it is today” he said.
