Former military President, Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida, has said that Senator Ahmed Mohammed Makarfi, presidential aspirant and immediate past Caretaker Committee Chairman of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) represents the new narration Nigeria desperately need.
Speaking at his Hilltop mansion residence when Senator Makarfi paid him a courtesy call Saturday in Minna, IBB said Makarfi restored his hope of a new Nigeria, adding that the former governor has his blessings.
“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.
“Without fear or favour, you have made my day,” the ex Head of State started 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 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”, he said.
Meanwhile, Senator Ahmed Makarfi has said he is not fighting with any of the returnees over the party’s 2019 presidential ticket.
Makarfi in a statement on Saturday in Abuja, by the Convener of the ‘Makarfi Must Win 2019’, Odama Groovydee Abednigo, said he didn’t say the party should not give ‘undue advantage’ to returnees as reported in the media.
“Our attention has been drawn to falsehood making the rounds in some quarters concerning Sen. Ahmed Mohammed Makarfi’s recent visit to Kogi State.
“For the sake of clarity, we wish to state that the presidential hopeful did not mention any names in his Kogi address.
“The words ‘undue advantage’ were not uttered by him in his address. The call was for caution in integrating defectors in such a way that all get accommodated without rancour. There is no fight with any returnee,” he said.
