A former military Head of State, Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar (rtd.) has again emphasised the need for politicians and all those seeking elective positions in all three tiers of government to play by the rules of the game and avoid overheating the polity.
Abdulsalami speaking when he paid the traditional Sallah homage on the Governor of Niger State, Dr. Muázu Babangida Aliyu on Tuesday, said politicians should learn to accept defeat in the spirit of sportsmanship if the outcome of the election is not in their favour.
“I am appealing to all politicians in Nigeria and Niger State in particular to play by the rules of the game. Let us play politics without bitterness,” Abdulsalami said, saying he was speaking for himself and General Ibrahim Babangida who was on medical treatment abroad.
“Whatever we do and whatever we say, peace should be our watchword. Let us understand that at every point in time that, politics is a game whereby winners and losers must emerge and the need to accept the winners as destined by Allah,” he counselled.
Abdulsalami, however, commended Governor Aliyu for the lasting peace enjoyed in the past seven years and prayed that whoever comes after him would sustain the trend or even do better in further sustaining the bond that had existed among all citizens of the state.
The former military President who was accompanied on the visit by two close friends to Babangida, Alhaji Umaru Ndanusa and Alhaji Mohammed Takum, however challenged journalists to support government by ‘reporting not to incite but to build a verily society’.
“I want to commended journalists for doing well in their reporting of political developments so far. Please report objectively and be factual in accordance with the ethics of your profession. Your reports could be destructive or inciting,” he said.
The former President and his entourage later went into a short closed meeting after prayers were offered for the quick recovery of General Ibrahim Babangida whom Abdulsalami described as ‘my brother’.
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