Former military president Gen. Ibrahim BadamasiBabagida, yesterday clearedthe air on his supported for the emergence of All Progressive Congress (APC). He said, “If there is one party state, because the smaller parties don’t have the strength, then there will be a lot of impunity, a lot of lawlessness.”
Asked whether he would run for the presidency in 2015, hereplied: “No, no, no; I am out of 2015.”
Gen. Babangida, who spoke on Kaduna-based radio programme Liberty Radio monitored by our correspondent, said two-party system was good for Nigeria.
“I am a firm believer of two-party system and I also studied the emergence of political parties in this country immediately after independence and it showed that this country will be heading for a two- party system.You heard about the national alliance, parties coming from the north aligning with those from the south, NEPU aligning with NCNC and so it started again during ShehuShagari time.
“So when we came into office, the two-party system was favouredbecause democratically you have a choice and can vote without belonging to a political party.
“You vote for the quality of the man you want to represent you, so it is not anything new because I believe in two parties and I see signs of the possible emergence of a two-party system, I welcome it, it is good for the polity, it is good also for the unity of this country.
“When we were doing it in 1989 some of you write us in the media that no it is going to be one Christian party, one Muslim party, it did not work then you said it was going to be one northern and one southern party and it did not work and everybody blended.
The chairman of NRC was Chief Tom Ikimi, the chairman of SDP was Dr.BabaganaKingibe and everybody was in one or the other, you just have to have an accommodation. I am a founding father of the PDP and I cannot disown what I founded,” he said.
On Obasanjo’s election in 1999,Babangida said itwas due to what happened in the country.“The country was in a serious crisis and we have to find the solution to the problem and therefore we needed a leader who is known in the country.We did not believe in foisting somebody who is not known on Nigerians, so we looked for a man who has been involved in the affairs of this country, who held position either in the military or in the cabinet and believedin Nigeria.
“He (Obasanjo) quickly came to mind. Remember those days the fight was against the north’s perpetuation in power. But here, we have someone who knows the north, knows the south and who fought a war, who says what he means.Obasanjo’s emergence saved Nigeria. At least, we did not disintegrate because we believe he can go to war again, to keep this country,” Babagida stated.
On 2015, Babangida said: “I will belong to those who will chose a credible candidate that can lead this country and it is not difficult to find out of 170 million people, there must be a candidate that is what the constitution provides, if the party is silly and chooses the wrong candidate, the ordinary person is not silly. He knows this man cannot lead me so he doesn’t vote for him. So if he chose a wrong candidate you stand the chance of losing the election.”
Speaking on Gen.DimkatBallialleged claim that he would have become the head of state, IBB said, “He could have, but there was an understanding that we follow seniority in the service, we did not want to truncate the seniority order. That is why we still maintain that in 1975. DomkatBalli no doubt was our senior.”
On the recent arrest of Iranian who claim they were on mission kill him and former Sultan of Sokoto,Alhaji Ibrahim Dasuki, Babangida said that “I do not think that the Iranian have any reason to kill me.”
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