Babangida: I will mobilise retired Generals to support Buhari

Babangida: I will mobilise retired Generals to support Buhari

Almost 30 years after he removed the All
Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate,
General Muhammadu Buhari, from office as Head of
State, General Ibrahim Babangida, on Monday,
pledged to ensure his victory in the February 14
election.

Buhari, Nigeria’s seventh Commander-in-Chief, was
toppled on August 27, 1985 by military officers led
by Babangida. Since the coming of democracy in
1999, Buhari had contested the presidential election
thrice – 2003, 2007 and 2011.

Babangida, who spoke when Buhari visited his
Uphill residence in Minna, Niger State, said he
would also mobilise retired military Generals to
support Buhari.

He said: “You have beaten some of us in proving
General Douglas McArthur’s theory that ‘old soldiers
never die but fade away gradually’, but you have
refused to fade away.

“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.

“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 their flag bearer. All of us will support you
(Buhari) in this course to salvage this country,”
Babangida declared.

An elated Buhari thanked Babangida for the open
support.