Posted by From GEOFFREY ANYANWU, Awka. on
Barely 24 hours after the former military president, General Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida, picked the presidential nomination form of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the 2007 elections, Yobe State Governor, Dr Bukar Abba Ibrahim, has described his action as an insult to the intelligence of Nigerians.
Barely 24 hours after the former military president, General Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida, picked the presidential nomination form of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the 2007 elections, Yobe State Governor, Dr Bukar Abba Ibrahim, has described his action as an insult to the intelligence of Nigerians.
This is even as Kano State Governor, Malam Ibrahim Shekarau, has blamed the elite for the political crises in the country.
The duo, who were in Awka for the grand reception in honour of the National Chairman of the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), Chief Edwin Ume Ezoke, spoke at different places.
The Yobe governor said that he was surprised that Babangida joined the race after all the 'mess" he put the country into, stressing that he was sure that Nigerians would not give the retired general the opportunity.
Ibrahim, who is also one of the presidential aspirants in ANPP, said his wealth of experience as a commissioner for many years and governor for two terms would give him the added advantage. He stated that his chances were high.
The governor noted that for eight years, Babangida held the country hostage and almost ruined her, adding that the nullification of the 1993 election was the highest political crime any leader could commit.
He said: 'I don't think Babangida is a strong opponent. I mean, we all know the antecedence of General Babangida. He was head of state of Nigeria for eight good years. We all know what happened within the eight years period, that military almost ruined Nigeria. He almost ruined Nigeria forever. We all know the policies of that government. We know what happened to the naira, and we know the nullification, which is the highest crime you can commit politically.
'For a president to cancel a free and fair election of another president under a regime which he brought about, that is the highest political crime you can commit."
He did, we all know how Nigerians suffered since then. It's only now we are about to recover, thanks be to President Olusegun Obasanjo.
'So, I believe he is just exercising his franchise, his right, hence we are in democracy, but other than that, I don't think Nigerians will give him any chance again to mess us up again, as he has done before. For eight good years, this country was almost ruined, during his regime. What more do we expect? What has he forgotten in the Villa that he wants to come back and pick? Well, you need to ask him to give you reply.
'I am surprised that he came into this race, honestly. I think is an insult to the intelligence of Nigerians".
However, Governor Shekarau, who spoke when he paid a courtesy visit to the state Governor, Dame Virgy Etiaba blamed the elite for the woes of Nigeria, noting that the common people in the villages only needed good leadership.
He said, 'Most of the crises we do have politically I blame 90 per cent on our elite. The ordinary voter in the villages does not bother himself who is in charge, under what party. What he is after is fairness, justice, God fearing and judicious management of their resources.
'Once this is ensured, in fact, the village man will tell you, let the leadership come from the moon, it is not his business and therefore our greatest challenge in our great party is a God fearing leadership and that is exactly what this great country needs now, our elite have failed us," he said.
He described the spate of impeachment across the nation as unfortunate, noting that there was nothing wrong in impeachment as provided by the constitution, but the illegal execution of such provision.
Shekarau congratulated Etiaba for being the first female governor in Nigeria and reminded her of the enormous challenges before her to prove that women are equal to the task.
Responding, Governor Etiaba thanked the Kano State boss for the visit and commended him for incorporating into his cabinet, people from other ethnic groups, stressing that, that must have informed the peace that have reigned in the state.
She called on other leaders in Nigeria to emulate him and go for those things that 'bring us together and do away with things that separates us".
The ANPP ceremony brought together all the presidential aspirants, including former head of state, General Muhamadu Buhari, Governor of Zamfara State, Alhaji Sani Yerima, Alhaji (Dr.) Bukar Abba Ibrahim of Yobe State and governorship aspirants, from various states of the federation, including party stalwarts.