President Babangida coming back in 2011 election?
Former Nigeria’s Military Leader, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida(rtd), has signalled his intention to run for the nation’s top post, come next year election.
The indication was dropped last weekend as newsmen cornered the former leader boarding an aircraft en-route to Asaba, Delta State from Benin, Edo state capital.
The indication therefore has doused speculations about his willingness following his recent utterances which had implied him as eyeing once again the Presidency.
He had been invited to the Delta State capital by the governor, Emmanual Uduaghan for the commissioning of a dual carriageway named after his late wife, Miriam, who departed early this year.
Mariam hailed from Delta State.
Babangida was also billed to deliver a lecture.
The former leader had systematically climbed to the limelight after a long spell in the cooler following series of statement credited to him late last year.
On Saturday, he said he was going to Delta State because of the special love he had for the state and at the invitation of the Delta State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan.”
Ask to comment on the speculation on his presidential ambition in 2011, he struck the nail on the head:” The speculation is correct.”
Last October, the former leader had meandered from obscurity to clamour for state control of Police and that the nation should directly place of education matters under state control.
A grinning Babangida eyeing the Presidency
EMNnews.com in a political gossip had hinted that the former head of State might be testing the waters preparing for a new political adventure in the nation’s polity. Our instinct then had been put on target with his recent body language and declarations.
Babangida ruled Nigeria from August 27, 1985 – August 27, 1993 and the failing health of his wife had taken a big toll out of his normal activities as he retired to Minna, Niger state capital after forcefully relinquishing power through national and international pressures in 1993.
On the eve of his exit he was planning to continue ruling, having planned to changed governance texture from military to civilian.
The dream was aborted through national and international pressures especially as his annulment of the freest and fairest 1993 election in the country since independence did not go down well with the public.
Babangida when confronted recently had told Nigerians during the recent 54th birthday of the Ogun State Governor, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, that he was still consulting on whether he would contest the 2011 presidential election.
In recent times, former President Olusegun Obasanjo was reported to have held secret meeting with Babangida on his new presidential ambition and reports claimed the elder statesman was reportedly to have thrown his weight behind him possibly with Babangida intending to camp with People’s Democratic Party(PDP).He may secure the party’s candidature for the next year’s election.
However, for the first time in 19 years, Babangida has accepted a chieftaincy title which had been given by his in-laws- a new calculated move he made to climb back to the limelight with a new tag and identity to shed off his old military tag of being called a general. Political observers in London described Delta state’s visit as another political meandering aimed at drawing sympathy from Delta state people especially with the death of his wife, Miriam who hailed from the state. The source said the aging political dream lord could be using his new ambition to shed off memory of his departed wife.
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Hey this is a great post. I’m going to email this to my friends. I stumbled on this while googling for some Nigerian news, I’ll be sure to visit regularly. thanks for sharing.
This is nothing but bull-shit. It would be a stupid thing for nigerians to vote for him. Just cant believe this man has the gut to contest. Nigeria’s political system is really rotten.