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The era of army rule is over in Nigeria, the former military head of state, General Ibrahim Babangida, told reporters yesterday in Lagos. “Let me re-emphasise that the era of military intervention in politics as an accepted alternative is over,” AFP quoted him as saying. He added that this had been accepted by his “former colleagues and comrades at arms”, Babangida ruled Nigeria from 1985 to 1983 and, according to AFP, has admitted to some involvement in most of the coups since independence in 1960.
Reports in the Nigerian press suggest that he has future presidential ambitions, hoping to run for office as a civilian candidate in the country’s next elections, following those to be held on 27 February, AFP added.
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