From John Adams, Minna

Former military president General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida has said that Nigerians should go back to God in prayers over the security challenges bedeviling the country as the situation will surely fade away with time.
He advised Nigerians however to be patient with the happening in the country because it a phase the country is passing through which an end.
General Babangida stated this at his hill-top mansion on Tuesday when officials of the Correspondents Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) in Niger state paid him a birthday visit.
He nonetheless appealed to those behind the series of insurgencies and Banditry across the country to have a change of heart as no society can develop with the current security situation
According to him, “Nigerians should be patient and should be convinced that this too shall pass God in His infinite mercy will come to our rescue”
He therefore charged Nigerians to be patient and prayerful and continue to sensitise one another on the need for them to live in peace with one another.
Babangida who turns 81 today (Wednesday) observed that the strategies he used to secure the country more about 50 years ago may not be applicable now “because things have changed”
On his 81st birthday Babangida said ” I give thanks to God almighty that has kept me till today, Alhamudullillah”.
On the media General Babangida said journalists in the state have been doing tremendous job in propagating the state and the country before advising them to keep the flag flying.
He admonished media practitioners in the country to work towards changing the psyche of the ordinary Nigerian adding that the press “should  ignore those that preach hate and disunity, ignore them”
He expressed the hope that the media in the country in the next 8 years ” Shape the way Nigeria will be”.
Earlier the Chairman of the Correspondent Chapel of the NUJ Mr Mustapha Bina had congratulated the former military president on his 81st birthday describing him as a father to all
Bina said Babangida has shown he is an elder statesman with his contribution to national discourse.
A birthday card was presented to the former military president by the visitors.