FORMER military president, Gen Ibrahim Babangida has described as ridiculous, rumours of plans by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to hand him the party’s 2019 presidential ticket even as he distanced himself from a conference seeking to strategise on how to reposition the party.
“While I welcome the invitation to the event as a mark of respect as one of the founding fathers, I want to be excused on the grounds that I have long bid bye to partisan politics. Four years ago at an elaborate event at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja, I announced my retirement from partisan poli- tics after my failed attempt to contest for Presidency and having attained the gracious age of 70, in a society where life expectancy stands at a ridiculous 47 years.”
He stressed: “In appreciating what Allah has done for me in life, seeing me through many challenges, stabilising me during periods of tribulations, and safeguarding me through the thick and thin of political risks, I did state at that event that newsmen would not push me around again.
“My fulfillment in life is further bolstered by the emerging scenario that is evident in our present political reality. First, the idea of two-party system which has always been my de- sire; and the stack reality that, incumbents can be defeated at various levels of election as a function of growing awareness and consciousness on the part of the electorate.
“These to me, present interesting dimensions in our political evolution as a country grappling with so many challenges.
(NAN)
