National Leader of the All Progressives Congress and former Governor of Lagos State, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, on Thursday disclosed that his visit to the former military President, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida, was to get his blessings.
He told journalists after a closed door meeting with the former Military President at his Uphill Residence in Minna that there was no way he would visit Niger State and not pay courtesy call and receive prayers.
While responding to questions on why he visited General Babangida, he said: “if you restrict my visit to this house, that is it. Generally, I came to Niger State to commiserate with the Governor and the people of Niger State. And so, I can’t stop by without paying a courtesy call to the enigma General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida, retired.
“So, he gave me his prayers. You want to know the outcome of the consultation? We are running a democracy, I took my decision voluntarily and I am running for the Presidency of the country, we are running a democracy, thank you very much and God bless you.
“When I made the declaration, I told you that I am still consulting and I will consult as widely as possible”.
Speaking earlier when he visited Governor Abubakar Sani Bello in Government House Minna, he assured that he will work with President Muhammadu Buhari to ensure that insecurity becomes a thing of the past.
According to him, “for the country to overcome insecurity challenges, it must get the right technology to fight and eliminate bandits and every criminal element.
“We will defend Nigeria’s democracy and its sovereignty and no government will sit down and be happy seeing these things happen especially maiming, killing of people and taking away their livelihoods.
“We will take the battle to them and we will win. We need to get the necessary technology in place to end insecurity across the nation.
“To address the issue of rustling, the government needs to put improved systems to encourage animal husbandry”.
Furthermore, he said this government while awaiting the incoming government would ensure total stability in the country before it winds up.
In his remarks, Governor Bello lamented the rate at which insecurity has ruined parts of the state, stating to succeed over banditry; the government must use technology like satellite and not the conventional method.
“We can not continue to fight conventional war, we have to employ the use of technology because conventional war will cause more casualties and loss of security operatives
“Most of my aides can no longer visit their homes because of the insecurity challenges.
“As a matter of fact, one of my Commissioners (Commissioner for Information and Strategy) was kidnapped; he went through torture, but was rescued unarmed.”
He further assured that he will take journalists round most of the affected areas so as to see for themselves the level of damage done by the bandits.
The highlight was a donation of N50 million to the Internally Displaced Persons in Niger State by Senator Tinubu.