NIGERIA BIGGER THAN PDP, SAYS IBB, RECEIVES APC LEADERS

Former Military President, General Ibrahim Babangida, has said that Nigeria is bigger than the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and that his doors would always be opened to all those who come to consult him on the way forward for Nigeria. Babangida made the remark when he received leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in his Uphill residence in Minna, Niger State, yesterday.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) took their consultation and wooing of members into the party to a higher level with the party leadership visiting and consulting with General Babangida and another former military leader, General Abdulsalami Abubakar in Minna.
Responding to insinuations by reporters that he is fraternising with the opposition despite being a chieftain of the ruling party, General Babangida said: “Nigeria is bigger than PDP. They came to talk about Nigeria and how to move the nation forward.
“The APC leaders visited me to discuss the welfare of the country which should be the responsibility of every Nigerian, whether you belong to a party or you do not have a party. You have an assignment assigned to you to protect the integrity of the country.
“People who come to talk about Nigeria and the way forward will always be welcomed by me. We have to find a way forward for this generation. What we are doing is for this generation.”
Speaking with newsmen after the closed door meeting, Babangida said:”The meeting have to do with the welfare, education, security and economic well-being of the country. Anything that would promote and move the country forward would be encouraged by me.” He lauded the APC leaders for their concern on the welfare of the country.
The APC train arrived at Babangida’s residence at about 11:30a.m and entered into a closed door meeting for an hour before departing to General Abdulsalami’s residence which is adjacent to Babangida’s house.
At Abdulsalami’s house, they entered into another closed door meeting with the former Head of State at about 1:03pm which also lasted for about an hour. On his part, Abdulsalami, who spoke to newsmen after his meeting with the APC leadership, said he cannot be wooed by the APC as he has never been a politician.
“I am not a politician. I am not a partisan politician and I don’t need to be wooed.” Giving an insight into deliberations during meeting, he said the APC leaders visited him to brief him on the amalgamation of the new party, adding that he has given them his dose of advice.
“What I told them, they have already heard. I’ve advised them on how all of us need this country and how to make sure that we maintain peace in the country.” Abdulsalami added that Nigerians should be allowed to exercise their right of joining any party of their choice. He urged the APC leaders to do what is right for their party.
“Whether you are in opposition or in government, in the various ways of your manifesto, you are serving the country. So, whatever role any party finds itself, the leaders should play that role very well,” Abdulsalami said.
National Chairman of APC, Chief Bisi Akande, said they were in Minna to consult with former leaders of the country so that they can be wise in the running of the activities of the party. “We need to pick the brains of former rulers in this country in order to be wiser than we were before we came,” he said.
Akande added that the consultations would continue until they have visited and consulted with all the wise men in Nigeria. In the APC entourage, apart from Akande, were former Lagos State governor, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, former Head of State, General Muhammadu Buhari, former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Masari, a former minister, Alhaji Hassan Lawal, the APC National Women Leader, Mrs. Sharon Ikeaso.
Source: My Daily Newswatch