2019: IBB’s camp split over Obasanjo’s coalition

There is anxiety in the camp of ex-President Ibrahim Babangida
as the ex-military leader and political associates consider if he
should join the Coalition for Nigeria Movement (CNM) or not.

There were indications that Babangida is under pressure to
distance himself from the former President Olusegun Obasanjo
movement and rather limit his contributions to his thoughts on the
way forward for the nation.

Findings revealed that Babangida met with some of his associates
during the week to discuss the likelihood of joining CNM or
abstaining from the group.

Babangida’s controversial advice to incumbent President
Muhammadu Buhari allegedly caused a sharp disagreement in his
family and political camp, leading to prompt release of a second
one attributed to his “friends.”

Further findings revealed that the disagreement in his camp
accounted for the ex-military president’s refusal to disown the
second statement.

Most of his associates reportedly kicked against joining forces
with Obasanjo to form any coalition.

The differences in his camp informed a series of shuttles to
Minna by some of his associates and consultations with a few others
like a former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, AVM Hamza
Abdullahi on the phone.

Checks confirmed that Babangida also had “frank sessions” with
former National Security Adviser, Gen. Aliyu Gusau, ex-Interim
National Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP), Sen. Ben
Obi, and a former Director-General of the National Intelligence
Agency, Brig. Halilu Akilu(rtd) during the week in Minna.

A highly placed source disclosed that: “There is anxiety in the
camp of Babangida on whether or not to join Obasanjo’s coalition.
Some of his associates and relations(including children) had been
prevailing on him to limit his contributions on 2019 to his
thoughts and recommendations on the two-party system.

“In fact, the scion of the family, Mohammed Babangida, some
associates and friends were behind the temperate second statement
on Sunday which actually the ex-military President did not know
about.

“So, as I am talking to you, the ex-military leader and his
associates had been weighing options on the way forward.

“Some of his longtime associates and children are opposed to any
gang-up in the twilight of his life. They also cited the alleged
harassment of Mohammed during the administration of ex-Obasanjo
over the investigation of the Chairman of Globacom, Mike Adenuga,
on why Babangida should not dignify the CNM.”

When contacted, a close ally of Babangida added: “Gusau, Obi and
Akilu risked the pains of traveling by road to discuss with
Babangida on available options and what should be the group’s
position.

“The issue is more complicated because another die-hard loyalist
of Babangida, ex-Governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola is the Interim
Coordinator of CNM. I cannot tell you the outcome because they were
locked upstairs for frank talks. I think they are really weighing
options.”

Findings also revealed that the political future of Mohammed
might have been responsible for the discordant tunes in Babangida’s
camp.

Another highly-placed source said: “The political calculations
in Niger State now is that Mohammed Babangida should seek election
into the Senate in 2019 to prepare himself for a future
governorship role.

“Since the military elite in Niger State dictate the political
tempo, there were indications that with Governor Abubakar Sani
Bello(who is a son of a respected retired military officer), a
Senatorial slot will be easier for Mohammed on the ticket of the
platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

“The position of some of the associates of the ex-Military
leader is that the Babangida dynasty should be preserved by
propping up Mohammed Babangida for a political office.”

Responding to a question, the source added: “Actually in 2015,
the governorship slot was zoned to Zone C in Niger State. Everyone
was pressurizing Mohammed to come out to vie for the slot because
his ancestral home(Wushishi) is in the same zone with Kontagora
where Governor Bello hails from.

“But Babangida, who was in Germany in 2015, asked Mohammed not
to vie for the slot because the time was unripe. We were all
shocked but we conceded to the ex-Military President that he knew
better.

“I think Babangida did not want to create division within the
military elite in Niger State because of the respect they have for
Col. Sani Bello(rtd), who is the father of the present governor,
Abubakar Bello.

“Also, Governor Bello is married to the daughter of a former
Military Head of State, Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar who is very close
to Babangida. Asking Mohammed to contest in 2015 will amount to a
brother fighting the husband of his “sister.”

There is anxiety in the camp of ex-President Ibrahim Babangida
as the ex-military leader and political associates consider if he
should join the Coalition for Nigeria Movement (CNM) or
not.

There were indications that Babangida is under pressure to
distance himself from the former President Olusegun Obasanjo
movement and rather limit his contributions to his thoughts on the
way forward for the nation.

Findings revealed that Babangida met with some of his associates
during the week to discuss the likelihood of joining CNM or
abstaining from the group.

Babangida’s controversial advice to incumbent President
Muhammadu Buhari allegedly caused a sharp disagreement in his
family and political camp, leading to prompt release of a second
one attributed to his “friends.”

Further findings revealed that the disagreement in his camp
accounted for the ex-military president’s refusal to disown the
second statement.

Most of his associates reportedly kicked against joining forces
with Obasanjo to form any coalition.

The differences in his camp informed a series of shuttles to
Minna by some of his associates and consultations with a few others
like a former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, AVM Hamza
Abdullahi on the phone.

Checks confirmed that Babangida also had “frank sessions” with
former National Security Adviser, Gen. Aliyu Gusau, ex-Interim
National Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP), Sen. Ben
Obi, and a former Director-General of the National Intelligence
Agency, Brig. Halilu Akilu(rtd) during the week in Minna.

A highly placed source disclosed that: “There is anxiety in the
camp of Babangida on whether or not to join Obasanjo’s coalition.
Some of his associates and relations(including children) had been
prevailing on him to limit his contributions on 2019 to his
thoughts and recommendations on the two-party system.

“In fact, the scion of the family, Mohammed Babangida, some
associates and friends were behind the temperate second statement
on Sunday which actually the ex-military President did not know
about.

“So, as I am talking to you, the ex-military leader and his
associates had been weighing options on the way forward.

“Some of his longtime associates and children are opposed to any
gang-up in the twilight of his life. They also cited the alleged
harassment of Mohammed during the administration of ex-Obasanjo
over the investigation of the Chairman of Globacom, Mike Adenuga,
on why Babangida should not dignify the CNM.”

When contacted, a close ally of Babangida added: “Gusau, Obi and
Akilu risked the pains of traveling by road to discuss with
Babangida on available options and what should be the group’s
position.

“The issue is more complicated because another die-hard loyalist
of Babangida, ex-Governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola is the Interim
Coordinator of CNM. I cannot tell you the outcome because they were
locked upstairs for frank talks. I think they are really weighing
options.”

Findings also revealed that the political future of Mohammed
might have been responsible for the discordant tunes in Babangida’s
camp.

Another highly-placed source said: “The political calculations
in Niger State now is that Mohammed Babangida should seek election
into the Senate in 2019 to prepare himself for a future
governorship role.

“Since the military elite in Niger State dictate the political
tempo, there were indications that with Governor Abubakar Sani
Bello(who is a son of a respected retired military officer), a
Senatorial slot will be easier for Mohammed on the ticket of the
platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

“The position of some of the associates of the ex-Military
leader is that the Babangida dynasty should be preserved by
propping up Mohammed Babangida for a political office.”

Responding to a question, the source added: “Actually in 2015,
the governorship slot was zoned to Zone C in Niger State. Everyone
was pressurizing Mohammed to come out to vie for the slot because
his ancestral home(Wushishi) is in the same zone with Kontagora
where Governor Bello hails from.

“But Babangida, who was in Germany in 2015, asked Mohammed not
to vie for the slot because the time was unripe. We were all
shocked but we conceded to the ex-Military President that he knew
better.

“I think Babangida did not want to create division within the
military elite in Niger State because of the respect they have for
Col. Sani Bello(rtd), who is the father of the present governor,
Abubakar Bello.

“Also, Governor Bello is married to the daughter of a former
Military Head of State, Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar who is very close
to Babangida. Asking Mohammed to contest in 2015 will amount to a
brother fighting the husband of his “sister.”