Former Military President, General Ibrahim Babangida, has backed the presidential ambition of former Senate president, Dr Bukola Saraki as the right man to take over from President Muhamadu Buhari come 2023.
According to Vanguard reports, General Babangida expressed his support for Saraki when a delegation of the Abubakar Bukola Saraki (ABS) National Campaign Advocacy Council visited him at his Minna Hill top residence on Wednesday, February 2.
REPORTERS AT LARGE gathers that the delegation was led by its chairman, Professor Hagher Iorwuese and Director-General, Chief Osaro Onaiwu.
REPORTERS AT LARGE recalls that Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, the national leader of the APC and presidential aspirant, had also earlier visited IBB.
Tinubu and his delegation were at the hilltop mansion of the former Nigerian military ruler in Minna, the Niger state capital on Thursday, January 20.
Speaking to journalists after his meeting with Babangida, Tinubu said: “I came to Niger state to commiserate with the governor and the people of Niger state. And so, I can’t stop by without paying a courtesy call to the enigma, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida.”
Though he is yet to officially declare interest in the presidency, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar also visited Babangida in Minna on Tuesday, February 1.
Babangida who did not hide his admiration for Saraki did not mince words, but equate Saraki to a Self Propelled (SP) artillery gun, an abbreviation for Senate President, whose credentials and personality speaks for him.
According to him, many aspirants have come and will come here. But a young man of his (Saraki) status who knows the country well should lead the country for maximum results.
“Am glad to have found people who have defined who a true Nigerian leader should be. This definition was lacking. Am happy you have identified someone who can do the job. The narrative has to change. I know your client very well. I am part of him. His father was very close to me.
You have zeroed on a good candidate. I call him SP. In the artillery, we have a Self Propelled gun called SP with strategic responsibility and functions. That is who he is”.
Babangida, popularly referred to as IBB, commended Saraki’s patriotic efforts as President of the 8th Senate saying,” It was Saraki’s efforts that saved the nation from an imminent crisis that ensued. Remember if he was not able to nip the crisis, only God knows what would have happened. It was his intelligence at play that saved the nation. He is the best for Nigeria.
“But a lot of work must be done to convince colleagues and Nigerians to this. You have identified the right person for the leadership of this country. We need a leader that can utilise our rich diversities to our advantage. We have abused our diversity and are not able to use it well to our advantage. I believe that the young Saraki has the capacity to bring back this glory to our nation. He has my prayers, he has my absolute support”.
The leader of the large delegation, Prof Hagher had asked for IBB’s blessings and support for Saraki, who is within the youthful age canvassed by IBB himself for the leadership of Nigeria.
Hagher said,” Your Excellency Sir, we are here to present to you your son, Dr Abubakar Bukola Saraki. The country has not fared well under the present system and if nothing is done, the situation will be worst. We remember how you provided concrete leadership for this country. We recall with a great sense of pride your intelligence, how you were able to assemble the best brains, to build a strategic network of contacts, connections and lasting relationships which are still standing strong today. You don’t forget your friends nor do you forget your relationships built over the years.
Your son Saraki has your DNA and is following these beautiful footsteps of yours. He has all that it takes to provide the kind of leadership you bestowed on this country.
He is intelligent, cosmopolitan, patriotic, determined, energetic and strategic to do the job”.
Making a case for the North Central zone, Hagher added that while the South West, South-South and North West have produced Presidents for Nigeria, and the North East and South East have produced Vice Presidents, the North Central, full of capable and competent human resources is yet to express its leadership potentials for the country. We respectfully aver that the North should produce the next President, the North Central.
