By Princess Simon (Bureau Chief North Central, in Minna)
Former Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, on Tuesday, visited former military President, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (IBB) and also held a closed door meeting with him at his hilltop residence, Minna, Niger state capital.
Atiku Abubakar is the third 2023 Presidential aspirant to visit IBB to solicit his support after the former Senate President and Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator Anyim Pius Anyim and the former Lagos state Governor and a leader in the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC), Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu.
Though details of the meeting which lasted for close to an hour was not made known, but feelers had it that the meeting may not be unconnected with the Presidential intent of the former Vice President whom it was gathered is consulting widely against the popular belief that the south should produce a successor to President Muhammadu Buhari.
Atiku Abubakar also later paid courtesy visit on the Niger state Governor, Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello, to sympathize with the government and people of the state over incessant attacks and killings by combined forces of Armed Bandits, Boko-Haram and ISWAP.
In an interview shortly after his meeting with Babangida and Governor Bello, Atiku Abubakar told journalists that he was at the Niger state Government house on a courtesy visit to sympathize with the state government over prevailing security challenges facing the state.
Atiku who however kept sealed slips over his 2023 aspirations simply said, ‘my aspiration for 2023 will be made public when the time comes’.
He also told journalists that the Governor has briefed him on the current security situation in Niger state challenges. The former Vice President described the persistent attacks and destruction of lives and properties as ‘very unfortunate and quite sympathetic’.
He told supporters of the PDP in Niger state, led by Tanko Beji and other members of the state working committee of his preparedness to support the party to wrestle power from the APC in Niger state in the 2023 general election in Niger state.
He however expressed concerns over the crisis bedevilling the party in Niger state and therefore called on the fractions to unite and work harder towards re-taking over power from the ruling APC in the next election. NNL.
