19th January, 2015
There are indications that former head of state, General Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida has endorsed General Muhammadu Buhari, the All Progressives Congress presidential candidate after the latter visited him at his home today.
The revelation came a fortnight after President Goodluck Jonathan, the Peoples Democratic Party presidential candidate, visited Babangida and was reportedly endorsed by the former military leader in Minna, Niger state.
Buhari had earlier today stormed Niger state to campaign as well as present Ahmed Musa Ibeto, Niger state deputy governor who dumped the PDP for APC.
Buhari, his running mate, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and other party leaders also visited Babangida popularly referred to as IBB at his hill-top home.
Babangida led a coup d’etat that terminated the 20 month old administration of Muhammadu Buhari in August 1985. And the two generals have been rumoured not to be in the best of terms.
Speaking while receiving Buhari who visited him in Minna, Babangida said “all of us will support you in this course to salvage this country”.
He said that the APC’s candidate’s doggedness in sacrificing to salvage Nigeria would not be lost. “I wish to congratulate members of the party for the honour of nominating my colleague, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, as your presidential candidate in 2015 elections”.
He said that the he and Buhari fought the battle to keep Nigeria indivisible, adding that such traits were attributes of patriots.
Earlier, Buhari said that the APC would commence a salvation crusade in Niger, adding that the calibre of people in APC in the state was a testimony.
He thanked Babangida for the support and camaraderie he had enjoyed over the years and assured him that Nigeria was on the verge of change.
He said that APC was set to take over the state with the calibre of the candidates presented for various offices and the quality of those that decamped from the ruling PDP.