BY their positions as former Nigerian Heads of sate, Gen. Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida rtd, and Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar rtd, hold special place of honour, and the Chairman of the ruling All Progressive Congress, APC, Sen. Abdullahi Adamu, Turakin Keffi, has taken it upon himself to recognize this right to such great respect. And in his conventional way of showing honour, the chairman, Sen. Abdullahi Adamu, was at the Minna Hilltop residences of IBB and Abdulsalami Abubakar today, Wednesday, 21/09/20221, for the expression of esteem and honour.
The first port of call was the residence of Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar rtd, who expressed evident satisfaction with the homage of honour. “Thank you for having the time to come and see me. I had some health challenges but by the grace of God, I am getting better. For you to squeeze time, out of your tight schedule, to travel all the way to Minna and visit me, shows that you are indeed a man of honour, and I appreciate it tremendously”.
Touching on the general concerns about the conduct of the coming campaigns by political parties, ahead of the 2023 general elections, the General said very soon they would arrange for the signing of two peace accords, one before the commencement of the campaign, and the second before the Presidential election. The aim he said, is to commit the parties and the candidates to the peaceful conduct of the elections, with the assurance that provided the elections are adjudged credible, free and fair, everyone would accept and abide by the results, without resort to the use of cutlass, instead of the court.
Addressing the press outside the General’s residence, Sen. Abdullahi Adamu said, “the visit was to commiserate with the former Head of state Head over his recent health challenges, and to thank Allah Almighty for granting him long life. The party and the country hold him in esteem, and the people would continue to pray for him to have more fruitful years, after his recently celebrated birthday”.
Going by the INEC timetable and schedule of activities for the poll, open campaigns will commence on the 28th of September, 2022, which is barely a week away. Ahead of the exercise, INEC has already released the final list of candidates contesting for the presidency in the general elections.
According to a circular released by the electoral body, yesterday, Tuesday 20/09/2022, in Abuja, those cleared for the Presidential race are Bola Ahmed Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Peter Obi of the Labour Party (LP), and Eng. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP). The circular carried the candidates’ state of origin, age, qualifications, and other details, as well as that of their running mates.
Among the concerns of the stakeholders in the coming elections is the issue of how to make the candidates prioritise accountability during their campaigns, especially accountability for a violence free campaign.
After a brief break at the Presidential lodge, the Chairman and his entourage moved back to the Hilltop, this time around to meet Gen. Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida. It was a beautiful reunion of old friends, who took time to exchange interesting jokes.
Looking relatively calm, cool and collective, in his beautifully furnished sitting room, the General and the chairman showed happiness on their faces, and despite the presence of other people, they exchanged banters with nostalgia. “You look good, Your Excellency”, Sen.Adamu said to IBB. “Thank you”, he replied, “but you know we have grown old”, said IBB “Indeed we are old, but we can’t thank God enough for the gift of long life. Your birthday was August, I think, and mine was in July”-Sen. Adamu. “But mark you, I am your elder brother”, said IBB, and the crowd went into a delightful laughter.
“The responsibility of leading a political party is very tasking and challenging, but you are equal to the task, because you are a veteran. Just a while ago, Sen. Saidu Dansadau and I were talking about you. He said you were the NPN secretary in Plateau state, while he was holding same portfolio in Sokoto”-IBB.
In the entourage was Sen. Abubakar Kyari, the Deputy chairman, north, for the APC. When he was introduced by the Chairman, IBB became perplexed, because he didn’t recognize him at first sight, asking, how come you are our son and you have this beard? Again, the crowd went into another round of laughter. Sen Kyari is the son of late Brigadier Abba Kyari, the former governor of former North Central state, and one of IBB’s seniors in the military.
By 2.30 pm, the chairman’s convoy commenced descending down the Hilltop, having completed the homage of honour, and now destined for Abuja, to continue with the challenges of party leadership.
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