Why I'm Running In 2011, By Former Military President, Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida IBB

General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida

From: Saxone Akhaine, Kaduna

FORMER Military President, Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida has said he is sure of securing the ticket of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) towards the 2011 presidential election.

Babangida, who recently confirmed his aspiration in Benin City, on his way to a memorial lecture for his late wife, Maryam in Delta State, spoke yesterday with the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) Hausa Service, monitored in Kaduna. He faulted critics of his administration and those who blamed his introduction of the Structural Adjustment Policy (SAP), insisting that the policy is still relevant today. According to hi, two decades and four years after leaving office, SAP is still a relevant economic policy.

He said: "Today, we are talking of exactly 24 years, but SAP has not change, they keep on modifying it. If the economy was ruined, by now, we would have been history. The Nigerian economy was not ruined.

"I want you to know that if you read all the books on the economy of Nigeria, you will find out that from 1960 to 1995, Nigeria made far reaching progress. I left office in 1993. You should be asking what have those who came after us done."

On whether he would realise his aspiration in the PDP, which has other contestants, which may include Acting President Goodluck Jonathan, IBB said: "I am in PDP. By the grace of God, we have 51 other political parties, so, there are several platforms. Before an election, there are procedures within a party to produce a flag-bearer. The party will follow such procedures to produce a candidate. Anything, that God wants me to do, to help this country, I will do it. If I am given the chance, I will know what to do and by the grace of God, I will do it. Nigeria is a country of 150 million people and any of this 150 million people can be president."

On who his godfathers are, IBB said the Nigerian masses, whom he worked for and who saw what he did, will be his godfathers.

Reminded that the masses were the ones who voted on June 12 1993, which he annulled, IBB said: "But what you should take into consideration is that there has never been an election like that before. That election convinced not only Nigerians, but even the international community that it is possible to conduct free and fair elections in Nigeria."

On why he annulled it, he said, "I have said this over and over again that I was the head of government and I take responsibility for it. As a leader, it is not proper to say this person did this."

On his botched 2007 presidential ambition, he said, "I gave my reasons for not contesting in 2007 and it was published in many newspapers in the country. Therefore, Nigerians know my reasons for not contesting at that time. But now, Alhamdudillahi, things have changed. Don't forget we are talking of helping the country. What we are talking about is something that happened some 16 years ago. We should be thinking of what we can do to make progress. God in His infinite mercy gave me the leadership of this country for eight years. Remember, the Nigerian people have not changed, and since they have not change, we are in a position to tell them that we can do it again."

On speculations that he is prodded by the United States to join the race, the former leader said that is not possible, since it is not the Americans that would do the voting.

On allegations of corruption and the N12 billion oil wind fall that was allegedly embezzled during his regime, Babangida said whatever happened during his government could not be compared to what is happening now. He said: "If you compare what is happening now with what happened during my administration, you will commend me. I sacked a governor for embezzling N300, 000 during my regime, but now, what do you see? During our time we were not enmeshed in this kind of things we see today.

Source: www.ngrguardiannews.com

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