After months of speculations, former military president, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida, yesterday picked the presidential nomination form of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), thus ending weeks of sustained anxiety over the platform he would use to pursue his 2007 presidential ambition.
Accompanied by his wife, Mariam, and scores of political associates to the party�s National Headquarters at Wadata Plaza, Wuse Zone 5, Abuja, Babangida told the PDP National Chairman, Dr. Ahmadu Ali, that he was bidding for the gold medal of the contest, the Presidency.
He said his decision to seek the position of president was not based on any desire to change the direction of Nigeria, but to �expand the frontiers of reforms that are designed towards building a better society�.
But THISDAY checks reveal that Babangida’s entry into the presidential race may have been without the support of the incumbent, President Olusegun Obasanjo who advised him not to vie for the position.
Investigations reveal that Babangida recently wrote Obasanjo to formally notify him of his intention to seek the 2007 presidency to which the latter reportedly replied with what insiders describe as “as a stinker”.
The kernel of the message, THISDAY gathered, was that Obasanjo was not disposed to a Babangida presidency. But the former military ruler may have ignored this response by picking up the gauntlet by putting his hat in the ring for what promises to be a titanic presidential contest.
Yesterday, Babangida whose ambition is believed to have rattled Aso Rock said: �If I say I would copy the President, this would not be fair to him. Speaking from what I know of Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, he had always expected his officers to be bold, innovative and imaginative. This is what I plan to be.�
He said, in a two-page speech that he read in the office of the party�s national chairman, that he was on a quest for a new employment.
He stated: �Let me crave the indulgence of the liberty that you gave me in a setting like this to express some sentiments about my new venture in the complex game of partisan politics.
�This is the second occasion in my life that I would be seeking for employment in public life. The first occasion was when I enlisted into the Nigerian Army in December 1962. The second is this occasion that I am about to enter into�.
He continued: �In enlisting into the Nigerian Army; it was the Board that determined the recruitment. But in enlisting into politics, it is the people through the instrumentality of the political party that will determine who gets the job.
�Mr. Chairman, I was once reminded that politics is like sport. There is a difference, however. In sport, there are gold, silver and bronze medals. In election, we only have the gold medal. Only one person would become the winner in an election. There will be no second best or third best�.
Babangida said further: �All parties play for the gold medal. This is what I want for the party under your chairmanship. I come before you today (yesterday) out of retirement and after being a former President of Nigeria to become the presidential aspirant of the party under your leadership because my vision for Nigeria approximate, what the party stands for�.
He appealed to the Nigerian people to register to vote in the forthcoming election and in all elections, adding, �Let your vote be your voice.�
Hundreds of party supporters carrying posters and banners with different inscriptions adulating the former president stormed the premises of the party headquarter as early as 8 a.m.
The human and vehicular traffic in and around the premises of the party headquarters resulted in congestion on the only road that leads to the place. The crowd that found their way into the headquarters building stretched facilities there to the limit.
Inspector General of Police, Mr. Sunday Ehindero, led the convoy of Babangida to the party headquarters. The convoy arrived there at 10.15 a.m., but because of the crowd, it took Babangida and his entourage as well as the National Working Committee (NWC) members of the party led by Ali more than 15 minutes to cover the short distance between the gate and the secretariat building.
The Inspector General of Police left immediately after leading the convoy there. However, FCT Police Commissioner, Mr. Lawrence Alobi, took charge of the security at the party headquarters.
Policemen also took positions outside the party headquarters while a Bomb Disposal Unit vehicle was stationed at the entrance.
Babangida, who left the party headquarters about 12 noon, had in his entourage his former Chief of General Staff (CGS), Admiral Augustus Aikhomu, Governor Abdulkadir Kure of Niger State, Deputy Governor of Niger State, Mr. Shem Nuhu Zagbayi, Chief of Staff to Babangida, Col. Habibu Shuaibu (rtd.), former Internal Affairs Minister, General John Shagaya and former Aviation Minister and governorship aspirant in Bauchi State, Mallam Isa Yuguda.
Others included Babangida�s first son, Mohammed, former Sports as well as Special Duties Minister, Col. Musa Mohammed, Senator Idris Kuta, Senator Nuhu Aliyu, Ambassador Leo Okogwu, Professor Omo Omoruyi, Col. Halilu Akilu, Alhaji Umaru Ndanusa, AVM Hamza Abdullahi, Chief Ombo Isokrari, Chief (Mrs.) Josephine Anenih, Chief Rufus Ada-George, Mrs. Catherine Hoomkwap, as well as chieftains of The Nigeria Project (TNP) from the United States of America-Mr. E.J. Agbonayinma, Mr. Teddy Obaseki and Mr. Steve Olaye.
Leaders of the PDP at the occasion were National Secretary, Chief Ojo Maduekwe, Deputy National Chairman (South) Chief Olabode George, National Vice Chairman (North Central zone), Alhaji Abubakar Magaji, Chief Chukwu Ozichukwu, Chief Victor Odili and many others.
Speaking with THISDAY after Babangida picked the form, a leading campaigner for the former president, Professor Omo Omoruyi, said: �Nigerians now will know that the transition is not for fun, but for real. They will have something to choose from between experience and greenhorn, between maturity and toddler, between expertise and mediocrity�.
Babangida later inaugurated his campaign coordinators for the 36 States and FCT at the Niger State Governor’s Lodge at Asokoro during which he thanked them for their commitment over time and asked them to remain steadfast in the course of discharging their responsibilities in the months ahead.
Nov92006