Former military head of state, Ibrahim Babangida says he is
not interested in running for any political office in Nigeria anymore.
Babangida stated this while reacting to reports that PDP is preparing grounds
to field him as their presidential candidate during the 2019 election. The
rumor started after PDP invited the former head of state to its re-branding
conference slated for November 12th. In a statement released today, Babangida
described the reports as ridiculous. The statement in part reads.
"I have heard whispers from different political arenas
that one of the rationales for the rebranding of PDP was to prepare me for
future elections in 2019. How ridiculous! God’s willing; by 2019 I will be 78
years old. If I called it quits in 2011, why would PDP contemplate fielding a
78 years old man in a presidential election in a country that parades very
vibrant men and women of lesser age? I have no intention whatsoever to run for
any office again in Nigeria. I will consistently pray to Almighty Allah to
grant me good health and sound mind to watch my dearest beloved country grow
from strength to strength during my lifetime and beyond. I wish to make some
clarifications concerning the invitation extended to me on the scheduled PDP
Rebranding Conference slated for Thursday, 12 November, 2015, aimed at
repositioning the party after its poor outing at the last elections. While I
welcome the invitation to the event as a mark of respect as one of the founding
fathers, I want to be excused on the grounds that I have long bid bye to
partisan politics. Four years ago at an elaborate event at the Transcorp Hilton
Hotels Abuja, I announced my retirement from partisan politics after my failed
attempt to contest for President and having attained the gracious age of 70, in
a society where life expectancy stands at a ridiculous 47 years. In
appreciating what Allah has done for me in life, seeing me through many
challenges, stabilizing me during periods of tribulations, and safeguarding me
through the thick and thin of political risks, I did state at that event that
Journalists would not push me around again. Attaining the age of 70 in 2011 was
to me a great accomplishment for which I remain eternally grateful to Almighty
Allah and my family who have shown tremendous support and encouragement
throughout my political trajectory. Since 2011 till date, I have been playing
my role as an elder statesman and “consultant-in-chief” to political office
seekers and other like-minds who want my input in their aspirations. At 74, I
feel a deep sense of fulfillment in my new role as non-partisan elder statesman
and a patriot; available to all categories of persons without the burgeoning
label of any political party or affiliation. I have many friends and associates
in the two dominant political parties; APC and PDP, and numerous other smaller
political parties. At this stage of my political journey, I want to be able to
interact and socialize with them without being branded “anti-party”. It is on
the score of this that I have elected to turn down this request to participate
in the rebranding conference of the PDP in a partisan manner. My fulfilment in
life is further bolstered by the emerging scenario that is evident in our present
political reality. First, the idea of a two-party system which has always been
my desire; and the stack reality that, incumbents can be defeated at various
levels of election as a function of growing awareness and consciousness on the
part of the electorate. These to me, present interesting dimensions in our
political evolution as a country grappling with so many challenges".
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