There is anxiety in the camp of
ex-President Ibrahim Babangida as the ex-military leader and political
associates consider if he should join the Coalition for Nigeria Movement (CNM)
or not.
There were indications that
Babangida is under pressure to distance himself from the former President
Olusegun Obasanjo movement and rather limit his contributions to his thoughts
on the way forward for the nation.
Findings revealed that Babangida
met with some of his associates during the week to discuss the likelihood of
joining CNM or abstaining from the group.
Babangida’s controversial advice
to incumbent President Muhammadu Buhari allegedly caused a sharp disagreement
in his family and political camp, leading to prompt release of a second one
attributed to his “friends.”
Further findings revealed that
the disagreement in his camp accounted for the ex-military president’s refusal
to disown the second statement.
Most of his associates reportedly
kicked against joining forces with Obasanjo to form any coalition.
The differences in his camp
informed a series of shuttles to Minna by some of his associates and
consultations with a few others like a former Minister of the Federal Capital
Territory, AVM Hamza Abdullahi on the phone.
Checks confirmed that Babangida
also had “frank sessions” with former National Security Adviser, Gen. Aliyu
Gusau, ex-Interim National Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP), Sen.
Ben Obi, and a former Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency,
Brig. Halilu Akilu(rtd) during the week in Minna.
A highly placed source disclosed
that: “There is anxiety in the camp of Babangida on whether or not to join Obasanjo’s
coalition. Some of his associates and
relations(including children) had been prevailing on him to limit his
contributions on 2019 to his thoughts and recommendations on the two-party system.
“In fact, the scion of the
family, Mohammed Babangida, some
associates and friends were behind the temperate second statement on Sunday which
actually the ex-military President did not know about.
“So, as I am talking to you, the
ex-military leader and his associates had been weighing options on the way
forward.
“Some of his longtime associates
and children are opposed to any gang-up in the twilight of his life. They also
cited the alleged harassment of Mohammed
during the administration of ex-Obasanjo over the investigation of the Chairman
of Globacom, Mike Adenuga, on why Babangida should not dignify the CNM.”
When contacted, a close ally of
Babangida added: “Gusau, Obi and Akilu risked the pains of traveling by road to
discuss with Babangida on available options and what should be the group’s
position.
“The issue is more complicated
because another die-hard loyalist of Babangida, ex-Governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola
is the Interim Coordinator of CNM. I cannot tell you the outcome because they
were locked upstairs for frank talks. I think they are really weighing
options.”
Findings also revealed that the
political future of Mohammed might have been responsible for the discordant
tunes in Babangida’s camp.
Another highly-placed source
said: “The political calculations in Niger State now is that Mohammed Babangida
should seek election into the Senate in 2019 to prepare himself for a future governorship
role.
“Since the military elite in
Niger State dictate the political tempo, there were indications that with
Governor Abubakar Sani Bello(who is a son of a respected retired military
officer), a Senatorial slot will be easier for Mohammed on the ticket of the
platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
“The position of some of the
associates of the ex-Military leader is that the Babangida dynasty should be
preserved by propping up Mohammed Babangida for a political office.”
Responding to a question, the
source added: “Actually in 2015, the governorship slot was zoned to Zone C in
Niger State. Everyone was pressurizing Mohammed to come out to vie for the slot
because his ancestral home(Wushishi) is in the same zone with Kontagora where Governor
Bello hails from.
“But Babangida, who was in
Germany in 2015, asked Mohammed not to vie for the slot because the time was
unripe. We were all shocked but we conceded to the ex-Military President that
he knew better.
“I think Babangida did not want
to create division within the military elite in Niger State because of the
respect they have for Col. Sani Bello(rtd), who is the father of the present
governor, Abubakar Bello.
“Also, Governor Bello is married
to the daughter of a former Military Head of State, Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar
who is very close to Babangida. Asking Mohammed to contest in 2015 will amount
to a brother fighting the husband of his “sister.”
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