Frmer Military President, retired General Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida, on Wednesday while responding to insinuations of him fraternising with opposition parties, declared that Nigeria is bigger than his party, the Peoples Democratic Party.
Babangida made the assertion when the leadership of the All Progressive Congress visited and consulted with him and another former Head of State, retired General Abdulsalami Abubakar, in Minna, Niger State.
Speaking to newsmen after the meeting, Babangida said that his doors would remain open to anyone that comes to consult with him on how to move the nation forward, adding that the APC leaders were concerned about the welfare of the nation.
According to him: “I said Nigeria first before PDP.
“Nigeria is bigger than PDP.
“They came to talk about Nigeria and how to move the nation forward.
“The APC leaders visited me to discuss the welfare of the country, which should be the responsibility of every Nigerian whether you belong to a party or you do not have a party.
“You have an assignment assigned to you to protect the integrity of the country.
“People who come to talk about Nigeria and the way forward will always be welcomed by me.
“We have to find a way forward for this generation.
“What we are doing is for this generation.
“The meeting had to do with the welfare, well-being, education, security and economic well-being of the country.
“Anything that would promote and move the country forward would be encouraged by me.”
In a similar development, Abubakar, who spoke to newsmen after his meeting with the APC leaders, said that he cannot be wooed by the APC as he has never been a politician.
He said :”I am not a politician.
“I am not a partisan politician and I don’t need to be wooed.
“The APC leaders visited to brief me on the amalgamation of the new party, how they are doing, how far they have gone and how things are moving.
“I have given them my dose of advice.
“What I told them, they have already heard.
“I’ve advised them on how all of us need this country and to make sure that we maintain peace in the country.”
Abubakar further said that Nigerians should be allowed to play their citizen’s right by joining any party of their choice, urging them to do what is right for their party.
Abubakar said: “Whether you are in opposition or in government, in the various ways of your manifesto, you are serving the country.
“So whatever role any party finds itself, they should play that role very well.”
The Chairman of APC, Chief Bisi Akande, said they were in the state to consult with former leaders of the country so that they can be wise in the running of the activities of the party.
Akande said: “We need to pick the brains of former rulers in this country in order to be wiser than we were before we came here.
“We will continue with the consultations until we have visited and consulted with all the wise men in Nigeria.”
It should be noted that the All Progressive Congress is taking their consultation and wooing of members into the party to a higher level as the leadership of the party is set to get the support of eminent and prominent Nigerians.
Among those who stormed the houses of the former leaders on Wednesday were Akande; the National Leader of the party, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu; former Head of State, retired General Muhammadu Buhari; former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Masari; former Minister, Alhaji Hassan Lawal; the party’s National Woman Leader, Sharon Ikeaso; and the leaders of the party in the state.
The APC train arrived at General Ibrahim Babangida’s Uphill residence at about 11:30am and entered into a closed door meeting for an hour before departing for Abubakar’s residence which is adjacent Babangida’s house.
They also entered into a closed door meeting with General Abubakar at about 1:03pm, which also lasted for about an hour.
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