Forget Me In 2015 Presidential Race – IBB

Contrary to widely held belief that former military
president Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida would content the 2015 presidential
election in Nigeria, the retired army general said he is not contesting.

Speaking at a media chat at part of activities making his
71st birthday last Thursday in his country home, in Minna the Niger State
capital, Babangida declared that he had not considered running for any elective
position at his age.

“At 75 years, I don’t think I want to go around the country
campaigning. The fact is, I am not contesting for the presidency in 2015. I can
not contesting again”, he declared.

In a telephone chat with The Tide’s source in Minna,
Babangida, who ruled Nigeria as a self proclaimed military president from 1985
to 1993, hinted that presently, he is more concerned about the insecurity
pervading the country, especially in some parts of northern Nigeria.

This he said, warranted his recent alliance with his
arch-enemy Gen Olusegun Obasanjo (rtd) in denouncing the present insecurity in
the country.

Both former heads of state were quoted as saying that they
are ready to do whatever possible to promote the quest for peace and harmony,
and are ready to join hands with all
patriots to sustain and further enhance the unity and progress of this
country.

Babangida aspired to contest for the presidency in the April
2011 presidential election under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party
(PDP) alongside other key contestant which included incumbent president,
Goodluck Jonathan and former VP Atiku Abubakar.

The PDP, however, opted for Jonathan at the end of their
national convention in Abuja, the country’s capital.