Ibrahim Babangida, Nigeria’s former military President, Saturday said that the presidential aspiration of Senator Ahmed Makarfi, the immediate past Caretaker Committee Chairman of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) has restored his hope in Nigeria.
Speaking at his Hilltop mansion residence in Minna when he received Makarfi’s campaign team, according to media reports, Babangida said he had almost lost hope in Nigeria but for the vision articulated by Makarfi, according to a statement issued by the aspirant’s campaign.
“Without fear or favour, you have made my day,” Babangida was quoted as saying in his response to Makarfi’s earlier address which focused on some of the challenges being faced in the country and the ways to resolve them.
“We need a new narrative in this country. We can’t go on like we used to. We need an articulated vision of a new Nigeria. I am not surprised that you give such a narrative of the country. You did well in the legislature and you handled well one the most civilised and sophisticated states in Nigeria.
“You have my blessings and I will look forward to hearing from you on some of these articulations I heard from you today. Honestly, I feel so proud.
“I was almost losing hope in the country, as a military man I wouldn’t. But having heard from the distinguished senator, I have become more enlightened and emboldened to say we have hope in Nigeria,” IBB told Makarfi.
He equally stressed the need for wealth redistribution in job creation adding that the true wealth of any nation is in the wealth of the people, among other issues.