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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