I Am Done With Politics - Babangida

MINNA, April 26, (THEWILL) – Nigeria’s former military leader General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida today in Minna said he has retired from politics as age was no longer on his side.

The retired soldier who spoke to journalists in Minna after casting his vote at his hilltop 020 polling unit said he would hence forth play the role of a statesman as he would not be able to withstand the rigours of political campaigns anymore.

“By the next general elections in 2015, how old do you think I will be? I will be 74 years old at that time and I won’t be able to go from my village to your village seeking for votes. I will rather remain an elderstates man at that time to give advice because I will be quite old at that time and campaigning will be a little bit difficult for me,” the former leader and ex presidential candidate said.

Babangida who was in the company of his relative and also a former military leader, General Abdusalami Abubakar, who also voted with his wife Justice Fati Abubakar blamed the media for circulating ‘inaccurate’ stories on his alleged anti-party activities during the Presidential election of April 16, 2011.

“I read about the allegations of my involvement in anti party activities in the newspaper and some of the things that are written in the papers never took place. I hope you read what Kassim Afegbua wrote in your paper that is my reaction,” Babangida added.

R-L: Generals Abdusalami Abubakar and Ibrahim Babangida with Justice Fati Abubakar at the Hilltop 020 polling unit after their accreditation in Minna, Niger State today April 26, 2011.