The former Military President, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (IBB) has endorsed Alhaji Kabiru Tanimu Turaki (KTT) SAN, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Presidential candidate for the 2019 election saying he is convinced that the, ‘KTT Agenda’ is capable of transforming Nigeria to the needs and aspirations of the citizenry.
General Babangida made the remarks when he received Tanimu Turaki at his up- hill residence in Minna, Niger State on Tuesday.
The PDP Presidential aspirant who was on a one-day sensitisation visit to PDP stakeholders in Niger state had told IBB during the visit how he intended to tackle issues of insecurity, decline in the national economy and the increasing youth unemployment.
Babangida said, “From your agenda I believe you mean well for this country I think if you are given the chance Nigeria will witness tremendous development, I have no doubts your roadmap can lead Nigeria to prosperity.”
The former Nigeria’s military leader also supported the call by the Presidential hopeful that the unity of Nigeria is non-negotiable as it must be held above all other issues, pointing out that, “Nigeria has never been so divided along tribal, religious, regional and otherwise as it is today.”
Alhaji Turaki had solicited the support of General Babangida for the realisation of his 2019 presidential ambition saying with the present day situation he had all that was needed to turn the country around for the better and as well, improve the country’s economy.
Alhaji Turaki said if voted into power he would implement policies and programmes that would not only bring about peace and unity but also put smiles to the faces of badly impoverished Nigerians.
Addressing stakeholders shortly after the visit at the state PDP Secretariat, Turaki lamented the level of insecurity submitting also that not less than 22 out of the 36 states in Nigeria today were grappling with one form of insecurity or the other.
While blaming the escalating insecurity on unnecessary rivalry among the country’s security Chiefs, Tanimu Turaki pointed out that if he were to be the President he would have sacked all the Security Chiefs.
According to him, “Insecurity is now spreading to Sokoto, Niger, Kebbi, in fact not less than 22 states in the country are under one form of insecurity or the other”.
Turaki blamed the crisis that bedeviled the PDP in recent past on the demise of the former Governor of Niger state, late Alhaji Abdulkhadir Kure, saying ‘if Kure were to be alive he would have resolved the problems before it degenerated to the level it did’.
Tanimu Turaki blamed the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) government for, “opening doors for theft of public funds while at the same time deceiving Nigerians that it was fighting corruption” saying, “corruption in public offices are more now than during the PDP era”.
Niger State Chairman of the PDP, Alhaji Tanko Beji in a remark, acknowledged the transparency of the aspirant saying, Turaki was one Nigeria that has, “lived a clean life despite all the top positions he had occupied’.
Tanko Beji who insisted that the PDP stakeholders in the state would consider the best for the Presidency argued that ‘for the PDP to win the 2019 presidential election it should avoid impunity by allowing the will of delegates to prevail during the primary election’.
