Former military president, Gen Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida has asserted that he will not contest for the Presidency of the country in 2019 as he has quit partisan politics.
IBB also declined the request by the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) asking him to participate in the party’s rebranding conference.
In a statement personally signed by him Tuesday, IBB stated that he publicly quit partisan politics since 2011 when he clocked 70 years and that he would not renege on the promise.
The statement reads in part, “I wish to make some clarifications concerning the invitation extended to me on the scheduled PDP Rebranding Conference slated for Thursday, November 12, 2015, aimed at repositioning the party after its poor outing at the last elections. While I welcome the invitation to the event as a mark of respect as one of the founding fathers, I want to be excused on the grounds that I have long bid bye to partisan politics.
“Four years ago, at an elaborate event at the Transcorp Hilton Hotels Abuja, I announced my retirement from partisan politics after my failed attempt to contest for President and having attained the gracious age of 70, in a society where life expectancy stands at a ridiculous 47 years.
“Since 2011 till date, I have been playing my role as an elder statesman and ‘consultant-in-chief’ to political office-seekers and other like-minds who want my input in their aspirations.
“At 74, I feel a deep sense of fulfillment in my new role as non-partisan elder statesman and a patriot; available to all categories of persons without the burgeoning label of any political party or affiliation.”
On the speculation of his presidential ambition, IBB said, “I have heard whispers from different political arenas that one of the rationales for the rebranding of PDP was to prepare me for future elections in 2019. How ridiculous? God’s willing, by 2019, I will be 78 years old.
“If I called it quit in 2011, why would PDP contemplate fielding a 78 years’ old man in a presidential election in a country that parades very vibrant men and women of lesser age? I have no intention whatsoever to run for any office again in Nigeria,” he declared.
Reacting to his appointment as Chairman of the proposed PDP National Conference slated for Thursday, Babangida urged the PDP to count him out of the conference saying that he had quit partisan politics four years ago when he marked 70 years. He said he had friends in the PDP and the All Progressives Congress, APC and playing the expected role would amount to partisanship.
“In appreciating what Allah has done for me in life, seeing me through many challenges, stabilizing me during periods of tribulations, and safeguarding me through the thick and thin of political risks, I did state at that event that journalists would not push me around again.
“Attaining the age of 70 in 2011 was to me a great accomplishment for which I remain eternally grateful to Almighty Allah and my family who have shown tremendous support and encouragement throughout my political trajectory. Since 2011 till date, I have been playing my role as an elder statesman and ‘consultant-in-chief’ to political office-seekers and other like-minds who want my input in their aspirations.”
-Leadership