“I have started visualising a good Nigerian leader. That is, a person, who travels across the country and has a friend virtually everywhere he travels to and he knows at least one person that he can communicate with”
“That is a person, who is very versed in economics and is also a good politician, who should be able to talk to Nigerians and so on. I have seen one, or two or three of such persons already in his sixties”
A death knell appears to have been sounded for the 2023 presidential ambitions of former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar and Asiwaju Bola Tinubu as ex-Military President Ibrahim Babangida rules them out of contention.
Bluntly put, Babangida said the duo is way above the age Nigeria needs as president in 2023.
Anyone above 60 years for the 2023 presidency is not acceptable, IBB as he is fondly called said on Friday while featuring on Arise TV programme, “The Morning Show” monitored by Persecondnews.
For the elder statesman, Atiku and Tinubu cannot enjoy his support as they are overaged for the 2023 presidency.
For Atiku by 2023, he would turn 77, while Tinubu, who marked an official 69th birthday in March 2021 would have clocked 71 years in 2023.
However, IBB hinted that he has and others have been shopping for a new Nigerian leader who will be in his sixties in 2023 to succeed President Muhammadu Buhari.
“I have started visualising a good Nigerian leader. That is, a person, who travels across the country and has a friend virtually everywhere he travels to and he knows at least one person that he can communicate with.
“That is a person, who is very versed in economics and is also a good politician, who should be able to talk to Nigerians and so on. I have seen one, or two or three of such persons already in his sixties.”
On the chances of “the choice”in the 2023 presidential poll, Babangida, whose military administration annulled Chief MKO Abiola’s June 12 presidential election, said: “I believe so if we can get him. Nigeria needs a leader that will talk to the people and not talk on top of the people.
“If you get a good leadership that links with the people and tries to talk with the people; not talking on top of the people, then we would be okay.”
On his relationship with President Buhari, who he toppled in August 1985, he said: “Our relationship is still very good. The seeming rift between us is caused by you, the media.”
Commenting on the Buhari administration’s anti-graft fight,
Babangida, who served as head of state between 1985 and 1993 before he forced to step aside, believed his administration was a “saint” compared to what is happening now.
“I sacked a governor during my time for corruption involving money less than N300. We now have governors who stole billions of Naira and are walking about free,” IBB said.
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