• Congratulates Jonathan
Written by Dipo Laleye Minna
Saturday, 15 January 2011

Contrary to expectations, former Military President, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida, on Thursday failed to attend the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential primary where President Goodluck Jonathan was picked as the standard-bearer of the party for April presidential election.

The Chanchaga Local Government chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party PDP in Niger State had 24 hours before the presidential primary picked General Babangida as a delegate and received assurance that the General would be present at the gathering.

However, Saturday Tribune can now reveal that the primary reason for his absence at the convention was lack of confidence in the electoral method adopted by the party for the election.

According to Saturday Tribune findings, General Babangida believed that allocating ballot boxes for each state of the federation was undemocratic.

In a democratic setting, Babangida was said to have told some of his aides that it was morally wrong for votes to be cast the way the PDP wanted it because it had the tendency of revealing where each delegate voted.

The method, according to a source close to Babangida, could make the winner to visit states that did not vote for him with retaliation with consequent denial of dividends of democracy.

General Babangida has congratulated President Jonathan on winning the PDP ticket. He also congratulated Alhaji Abubakar and Mrs Sarah Jubril. According to Babangida, Jonthan victory’s was not only personal, but to all PDP members. The statement reads:

“I, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida, GCFR, wish to congratulate President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, GCFR for his landslide victory at yesterday’s presidential primaries of our great party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), held at the Eagle Square, Abuja.

“His victory at the primaries is not only personal, but to all members of our great party, to lovers of peace, unity and progress; and to all those who believe in democracy and Nigeria. I therefore urge him to be magnanimous in victory and carry along with him those who lost at yesterday’s event. This is the only way we can bury the intra-party differences and bitterness that preceded the primaries.

“Special congratulations to former Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar GCON, on putting up a gallant fight and braving all the odds to make an impressive showing at the primaries. History will always give him a place of pride for his tireless efforts to enthrone democracy in Nigeria.

“My admiration also goes to the woman of substance and courage who never gives up – Mrs Sarah Jibril- who has since 1993 sought at every opportunity to offer her services as president of this country. Even though she has not succeeded, history will one day say this is the woman who saw tomorrow when eventually Nigeria elects a woman president.”