There is evidence that Nigeria’s former military President, General Ibrahim Babangida, is at heart, still a supporter of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, contrary to the impression that he has quit the party. He wants the party to provide a better choice for Nigerians in the 2019 general elections.
According to the PDP National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, Babangida expressed his feelings in Minna, while receiving members of the National Working Committee, NWC, of the party led by its new Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus. Babangida was quoted as saying that: “I am happy at your assurances that there will be no imposition of candidates in all your primary elections. It is all about choice and you have promised to provide the best choice.”
The former Head of State commended the last national convention of the PDP, pointing out that many Nigerians did not believe that the event would hold. He noted, however, that the convention was well conducted as it achieved its objectives.
General Babangida also hailed the steps being taken by the new PDP Chairman to re-position the party. His words, “Your ‘Reposition, Rebrand and Regain’ agenda is working and I mean particularly the rebranding. Some people believed that having been in government since 1999, the PDP will find opposition difficult but you are carrying on well and providing a better alternative.’’
Mr. Secondus had earlier appealed to Babangida to get all former Heads of State to rally together to save the nation from its current difficulties. He lamented the killings and economic hardships, which Nigerians contend with on daily basis, stressing that Nigeria had not witnessed the type of divisions currently being experienced by the people. Mr. Seconds was blunt, “Today, our nation is drifting and as leaders you cannot afford to keep quiet and watch on the sides. Leaders like you must come together and take a firm position on how to save our nation from the precipice.’’
He therefore urged all Nigerians to rally round the repositioned PDP to restore the nation once more to the path of peace, national unity and economic prosperity.
