Former military president, Gen Ibrahim Babangida has described as ridiculous, rumours of plans by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to hand him the party’s 2019 presidential ticket even as he distanced himself from a conference seeking to strategise on how to reposition the party.
Similarly, former Senate President, Ken Nnamani has questioned his inclusion in the 53-man committee scheduled to attend the conference. Nnamani said he was neither contacted nor given prior notice about the conference before his name was included among party’s leaders that would at- tend the conference.
The conference is scheduled for tomorrow, at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja . Babangida, in a statement entitled, “PDP Rebranding Conference: Count me out” described as strange and illog- ical, rumours that the confer- ence is being packaged to fine -tune ways of making him the candidate of PDP in 2019.
He wondered how the party could take such step when there were younger people waiting on the sidelines to take the country to a greater height.
“I have heard whispers from different political arenas that one of the rationale for the rebranding of PDP was to prepare me for future elections in 2019. How ridiculous? God willing; by 2019, I will be 78-years-old. “If I called it quits 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 of- fice again in Nigeria…
“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 Hotel, Abuja, I announced my retirement from partisan poli- tics after my failed attempt to contest for Presidency and having attained the gracious age of 70, in a society where life expectancy stands at a ridiculous 47 years.”
He stressed: “In appreciating what Allah has done for me in life, seeing me through many challenges, stabilising me during periods of tribulations, and safeguarding me through the thick and thin of political risks, I did state at that event that newsmen would not push me around again.
“My fulfillment in life is further bolstered by the emerging scenario that is evident in our present political reality. First, the idea of two-party system which has always been my de- sire; and the stack reality that, incumbents can be defeated at various levels of election as a function of growing awareness and consciousness on the part of the electorate.
“These to me, present interesting dimensions in our political evolution as a country grappling with so many challenges.
Meanwhile, Nnamani, in a chat with Daily Sun, asked the party to clarify the rationale for his inclusion in the 53-man rebranding committee.
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