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Nigeria’s former military president, Ibrahim
Babangida, has advised other parties in the country not to imitate the
measures adopted by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in handling
disagreements among members.

Mr. Babangida, who spoke to aviation correspondents
at the presidential wing of the Murtala Mohammed Airport (MMA), Lagos,
on Sunday, disclosed that the ongoing dispute among the nation’s ruling
party officials should be addressed according to the laid down dictates
of the party.

“The truth is, I do hope that they should be able to
resolve it by playing by the rules. If they allow it to escalate, they
would be showing bad examples and other parties should not emulate the
PDP,” he said. “Going after party officials and this and that is not
the solution to the problem.”

Maintaining that the right procedures be adopted when
suspending members, the former president disclosed that party officials
can only be removed after an agreement in a conference.

“Due process must be followed in handling issues.
Therefore, if some executives were brought in by the national party
convention, the only people who could remove them are the convention
and not any other arrangement,” he said.

Last week, the PDP announced the indefinite
suspension of 19 members, which included key officers like Peter Odili
and Achike Udennwa, former governors of Rivers and Imo States; Ken
Nnamani and Adolphus Wabara, former Senate Presidents; Aminu Bello
Masari, former Speaker of the House of Representative; among others.

A statement signed by the National Secretary of the
party, Abubakar Kuwa Baraje, disclosed that “their case has been
referred to the National Disciplinary Committee for further necessary
action.” Meanwhile, Mr. Babangida implored the party to give room for
free dialogue, adding that political parties globally are faced with
similar problems.

“The leaders of the party should allow internal
democracy to flourish. It is not news, this thing is all over the
world. Political parties do have some of these problems but the ability
to resolve it internally is what they should be preaching now, not
party,” he said.

The former General, however, called on party
officials to desist from condemning the head of the PDP, adding that
the recommended procedures must be adhered to when handling divides
among members.

“They should allow internal defence, internal
democracy, and people should express their views and not to fault the
chairman,” he said. “If the chairman has done something wrong, the
process must be followed and that is why it is called a political
party.”

“They shouldn’t behave like the military,” he added, laughing.

Atiku leaves without a word

While the interview with the former president was
going on, Nigeria’s former vice president, Atiku Abubakar, arrived the
airport and headed straight for his private jet parked on the tarmac,
without saying a word neither to the ex-military leader or to reporters.

Though approached by reporters to get his comment,
Mr. Atiku, who appeared to be in a hurry, could not be reached, as his
officers guarded him to his aircraft.