Why I support Buhari – IBB speaks

Gen. Babangida, hosting the APC presidential hopeful in his Uphill residence in Minna, said he was proud of Gen. Buhari’s persistence and perseverance in offering himself for service at the highest level.

All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate General Muhammadu Buhari’s ambition yesterday got a boost from his primary constituency – the military – with former military President Ibrahim Babangida saying his colleagues (retired generals) will support him.


“You have beaten some of us in proving Gen. Douglas Mc’Arthur’s theory that, ‘old soliders never die but fade away gradually’, but you have refused to fade away,” he told his guest.



He praised APC for honouring the military by nominating Gen. Buhari. “I wish to congratulate members of the party for the honour of nominating my colleague, General Muhammadu Buhari as your presidential candidate in the 2015 election,” Gen. Babangida said.

The former military president said the media misrepresented his relationship with Gen. Babangida alleging that the media had created the impression that the two leaders were at loggerheads.

His words: “You media men have created this impression that we are fighting each other. Look at us here today. He knows what I mean and I know what he means. We both fought to keep Nigeria one when we were young majors then. We were well travelled.

“I want to commend APC for choosing our colleague as your flag bearer. All of us will support you (Buhari) in this course to salvage this country.”

Earlier, the APC candidate said he was in Minna in continuation of his nationwide search for votes to salvage the country from the 16 years of “misrule” of the PDP government.

Gen. Buhari, who was elated by assurance, said he had earlier met with former President Olusegun Obasanjo whom he failed to pull to APC but who blessed his aspiration.

He said the party was set to take over the state, with the calibre of the candidates presented for various offices and the quality of those who defected from the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

With Gen. Buhari were the APC Deputy National Chairman Senator Lawan Shuaibu, National Leader Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, Mr. Audu Ogbeh, Chief Bisi Akande, Rivers Governor Rotimi Ameachi, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola and Chief Segun Oni.

Others are: General Abdulraham Dambazzau, Senator George Akume, Chief Niyi Adebayo, Senator Bukola Saraki, Alhaji Kawu Baraje and Mrs. Kemi Nelson.