2019: IBB endorses Kabiru Tanimu Turaki for President

Former Nigeria military President General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida has thrown his weight behind the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential aspirant Alhaji Kabiru Tanimu Turaki, saying “your agenda is capable of redeeming Nigeria.”

General Babangida said on Tuesday when he played host to the PDP Presidential aspirant at his uphill residence in Minna Niger state that Nigeria’s Unity must notbe compromised.

According to him “your road map can lead Nigeria to prosperity. We are taught in the Military that the Unity of Nigeria must not be compromised. The programmes in your agenda are capable of transforming Nigeria.

“From your agenda, I believe you mean well for this country. I think if you are given the chance Nigeria will witness tremendous development”.

General Babangida further disclosed that the unity of Nigeria is to be held above all other issues adding that “Nigeria has never been so divided”.

The former Military President, however, warned that “even though I have adopted you and you emerge as the President I will follow you up so that if you derail, I will remind you of your promises.”

Earlier, the Presidential aspirant, who was on a sensitisation visit to PDP stakeholders in Niger state had told the former military president during the visit how he intended to tackle insecurity, the decline in national security, worsened economy as well as increasing unemployment among the youths.

He solicited the support of the former military president for the realisation of his 2019 presidential ambition saying that “if voted into power I will implement policies and programmes that will bring smiles to the faces of Nigerians. I have all that is needed to improve the country.”

Addressing stakeholders at the PDP Secretariat he lamented that insecurity was increasing in the country submitting also that not less than 22 out of the 36 states in the country were under one form of insecurity or the other.

He blamed the escalating insecurity on unnecessary rivalry among the security chiefs and added that if he were to be the president he would have sacked all the security chiefs.

Accordingly, he said “insecurity is now spreading to Sokoto, Niger, Kebbi, in fact not less than 22 states in the country are under one form of insecurity or the other.”

While lambasting the All Progressives Congress (APC), Turaki said “I blame the APC government for opening door for theft of public funds. Corruption in public offices are more now than during the PDP.”

“They (APC) had accused the PDP of corruption and insecurity, but now that they were given the opportunity, they failed. They could not curtail the Boko Haram menace which has even transcended to what we call killer herdsmen who have now infiltrated many states.”

In his remarks, the State Chairman of the PDP, Barrister Tanko Beji assured that, as the first aspirant to visit the State and with his transparency, the State will support him.

“You are the first Presidential aspirant to visit us and because of that, you have an edge over others. We have agreed in Niger that any aspirant who don’t come to us will bot get our votes.

“We have 106 delegates as a state, we need a candidate like you who can tackle the problems that are currently bedevilling our nation. I can assure you that 14 days to the primaries, we will send you the names of our delegates and we will be fair in our dealings with you.”

He further advised that “for the PDP to win the 2019 presidential election it should avoid impunity by allowing the will of delegates to prevail during the primary election.”

New Telegraph