Former Military Head of state, General Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida (IBB) has backed former Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki as the rightful man for Nigeria’s presidency in 2023.
The elder statesman who threw his weight behind the candidacy of Saraki, described him as the best candidate to unite the country.
Babangida said this while playing host to a delegation of Abubakar Bukola Saraki, (ABS), National Campaign Advocacy Council led by its Chairman, Prof Hagher Iorwuese and Director- General, Chief Osaro Onaiwu.
Speaking at his Minna Hill top residence, the former head of state did not mince words on Saraki, describing him as a Self Propelled(SP) artillery gun who has several functions to lead the country in the right direction.
According to him, Saraki has many qualities to lead the country for maximum results unlike many other aspirants in the country.
In his words, “Am glad to have found people who have defined who a true Nigerian leader should be. This definition was lacking. Am happy you have identified someone who can do the job. The narrative has to change. I know your client very well. I am part of him. His father was very close to me.
“You have zeroed on a good candidate. I call him SP. In the artillery we have a Self Propelled gun called SP with strategic responsibility and functions. That is who he is.
“It was Saraki’s efforts that saved the nation from imminent crisis that ensued. Remember if he was not able to nip the crisis, only God knows what would have happened. It was his intelligence at play that saved the nation. He is the best for Nigeria.
“But a lot of work must be done to convince colleagues and Nigerians to this. You have identified the right person for the leadership of this country. We need a leader that can utilise our rich diversities to our advantage. We have abuse our diversity and are not able to use it well to our advantage. I believe that the young Saraki has the capacity to bring back this glory to our nation. He has my prayers, he has my absolute support.”
Babangida’s support is against the opinion of many southern leaders who have called for the presidency to be zoned to the south.
Earlier, The New Diplomat had reported that Leader of the Southern and Middle Belt Leaders Forum (SMBLF), Chief Edwin Clark, urged northern aspirants, including Saraki to bury any intention to contest in 2023 presidential election in the best interest of the unity of the country.
