Babangida at 75, urges Federal Government to tackle predicted flooding

• Wants part-time legislature to cut governance cost
• ‘Enugu to Umuahia trekking my toughest task in Army’

Former Military President, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida, has urged the Federal Government to intensify efforts at tackling the flooding predicted by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET).

Babangida, who made the call in Minna yesterday during an interview with newsmen to mark his 75th birthday, which comes up today, said that the government needed to put in place measures to ensure that states prone to flooding took the necessary measures to prevent loss of lives and property.

“I believe government can look at those areas that are prone to flooding and start putting measures in place to avoid loss of lives and property,” he said.

Besides, he called for a part-time legislature to cut the cost of governance. .

He said‎ although a proposal by his regime to make the National Assembly part-time in 1989 never came to fruition, he still strongly believed in it.

On how he felt on hearing the rumour of his death in the media, Babangida said: “The first thing that came to my mind‎ was that it is not new; they did it to Nnamdi Azikiwe, they did it to Shehu Shagari and other elder statesmen, so, it’s not a surprise”

He also said that his toughest task in the army was trekking from Enugu to Umuahia where he sustained injury during the Nigerian civil war.

“Movement from Enugu to Umuahia was very tough and challenging because you need to be physically fit to be able to undertake that kind of journey on foot,” he said.

Meanwhile, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and some eminent Nigerians have said Babangida deserves accolades for his contributions to the development of the nation.