By Emeka Mamah
KADUNA—Former military President and presidential aspirant on the platform of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida, says it would amount to lack of patriotism for him to sit back and watch things go wrong in the country, saying this was why he decided to contest the 2011 election.

Addressing his supporters under the aegis of All Kaduna State NGO Support for IBB Forum at his Kaduna residence yesterday, Babangida said that he put his hat in the ring because of his love for the country as well as his desire to bring back the country on the path of development and glory.

Babangida said Nigeria had practically stagnated since he left office in 1993.

He spoke against the backdrop of yesterday’s cancellation of the public declaration of his presidency as well as commissioning of his campaign office in the state by the Police which insisted that the former Nigerian leader must give it sufficient notice of at least 48 hours according to the Public Order Act to ensure adequate security in the vicinity.

ACF fears insinuations

However, Arewa Consultative Forum, ACF, has reacted to the cancellation and urging security agencies to be more discreet in matters affecting political opponents so that they would not be accused of bias as well as lead to insinuations that President Goodluck Jonathan was using his power of incumbency to his personal advantage.

According to Babangida, his decision to run for the presidency was also to ensure the people had a country of their dream.

He said: A country  “Where every Nigerian, irrespective of tribe, tongue, religious or party affiliation will enjoy equal rights and have quality life.”

IBB emphasised that the current development challenges facing the nation were beyond any individual, group, political or sectional interest.

He, however, noted that “God will not let us down in our resolve to put Nigeria back on track of rapid development. We had expected that those who came after us would take over from where we had stopped in the task of building a great Nigeria of our dream.

“Here we are today, things are worse than when we left the corridors of power. It is unpatriotic of an elder statesman like me or any other person to watch things wrong when I know I can still make a meaningful impact.

“I appreciate your trust and confidence in me to be able to give Nigeria the kind of leadership it truly deserves.

“I have done it before; I will do it again, God willing. I want to say that I sincerely need your support.
“What you have demonstrated here today is worthy of emulation.

“Other Nigerians should emulate you. There are Igbo, Yorubas, Hausas and other minority tribes among you here. But you have come together to give me this support. That is a true reflection of how Nigeria should be.

Earlier in his speech, the Deputy Director General of the Babangida’s Campaign organization, Senator Kanti Bello said that it was time for Nigerians to elect a leader who can take the nation out of the woods, adding that people prevailed on the former military president to contest the 2011 elections owing to his good leadership qualities.

Senator Bello further said that he supported Chief MKO Abiola in the June 12, 1993 presidential election which Babangida annulled and expressed confidence that Babangida will not only win the PDP primaries, but will go ahead to win the presidential election itself.

In their comments spokesman for the group, Alhaji Yahaya Ahmed told Babangida that they were in his house to identify with his presidential aspirations and dream for the country, stressing that they “will continue to pray for his success and will never betray his trust”.

According to Ahmed, “we believe in you and your abilities. We know what you can do because some of us are living witnesses to your great achievement while you were the military president.

“You have the experience, you have the passion, patriotism and courage required of a good leader”.
Meanwhile, ACF which reacted to the police cancellation of the IBB’s public declaration of his ambition in the state through its National Publicity Secretary, Anthony Sani said, “ACF does not have all the facts surrounding the refuses of the Nigerian Police to grant IBB the permit for his rally in Kaduna.

“As a result, the forum cannot provide fair comments on the issue.

“However, in view of the whiff of mistrust and suspicion hovering over the polity, ACF advises relevant security agencies to be more discreet in matters affecting political opponents, lest it be said he (President Goodluck Jonathan) is misusing power of the incumbency to keep his opponents at the short end of the competition”.