Former military President Ibrahim Babangida made no
commitment on the 2015 presidential poll to President Goodluck Jonathan at a
meeting in Minna on Saturday,
according to The Nation .
The details of the
meeting between Jonathan and Gen. Babangida were revealed in Abuja by one of
the key aides of the former military leader.
The
talks between the two leaders in Minna created ripples in the North, with many
highly-placed Northerners bombarding Gen. Babangida with calls on what actually
transpired.
The
aide, who was at Gen. Babangida’s Hilltop mansion when Jonathan visited, said
the talks had nothing to do with the general elections.
The
source said: “It is true that the President visited Gen. Babangida at his Minna
Hilltop mansion but the nature of his message was based purely on unity
of the country and not about 2015 presidential election.
“As
a former president who fought for the unity of the country, he was of the view
that the president needs support as President and not as presidential candidate per se.
“It
is his view that the country needs to be united as one before we can begin to
talk about election. Only a united Nigeria can guarantee credible election.”
According
to the aide, who requested not to be named because he was not permitted to
speak to the media, “What Gen. IBB said should be viewed within the context of
the larger Nigeria interest and not that of any parochial interest that is
likely to unsettle the system.
“Those
of them who fought in the civil war to keep the country one understand the
dynamics and challenges facing us now in the face of grave insecurity and poor
economic realities,” he said.
Besides,
said the aide, those criticising Gen. Babangida should take it easy as he
belongs to the PDP “even as a nominal member.
“As
a leader and former president who was privileged to preside over the affairs of
the country and who also fought in the civil war, he will continue to speak the
language of unification than that of division,” he said.
Gen.
Babangida’s view, according to the aide is that as a President who is
facing crises, Jonathan deserves the support of all to keep the country
together, irrespective of all the manifest imperfections.
Jonathan
is said to have started reaching out to top Emirs and leaders in the North to
checkmate Gen. Buhari’s influence.
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