IBB: We Mooted the Idea of PDP Ruling for 60 Years

Says party has a ‘military wing’

Former Military President, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida, has revealed that he and some other stakeholders who formed the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), mooted the idea that the party should rule for 60 years for the stability of the country.

Speaking yesterday at his Hilltop mansion in Minna, the Niger State capital, Babangida, while receiving the Senator Ahmed Makarfi committee on "Strategy and Inter-party Affairs" led by Professor Jerry Gana, which handed him a copy of the panel’s report, also said that the PDP at formation had a "military wing" that provided the support base for the party to take off.

"I termed us IRA (Irish Republican Army) military wing of PDP. I thank God we came up with the concept that PDP should rule for 60 years," he said, insisting that as the only party whose impact is felt from top-down, the PDP has the capacity to be in power for that long.

He explained that "PDP can rule for 60 years if they put their house in order. I am happy the house is being put in order. PDP is the only party that has been accepted from top to down. Its

presence is being felt and will continue to be felt throughout the country. You need to work on getting up back again and find a solution to your problems.

“PDP’s presence is felt not only in Abuja or Lagos, but down to the lowest level. If you go to the grassroots, the ordinary man will talk about PDP; that is the asset the party has and should use to spring back to reckoning. Already, it is accepted and known. All you have to do is work harder and try to convince the people back to your fold,” he said.

A former PDP National Chairman, Col. Ahmadu Ali was the first to make public the proposed intention of the party to rule for 60 years. Ali was also known as the proponent of garrison politics in PDP.

On the PDP having a military wing, Babangida said the membership of that wing included himself, Lt-General Theophilus Yakubu Danjuma, former President Olusegun Obasanjo and General Aliyu Mohammed among others.

Nigerians from all walks of life have continued to mourn the passage of former Military Governor of Western Region, General (rtd) Robert Adeyinka Adebayo and former Governor of then Bendel State, Brigadier-General (rtd) Dr. Samuel Osaigbovo Ogbemudia, with the death of both national icons described as the creation of a big vacuum in the nation’s history.

General Adebayo died on Wednesday at the age of 89, while Brig-General Ogbemudia died on Thursday night at the age of 84, with calls for immortal is at ion and state burials for the elder statesmen.

In a condolence message in Ado-Ekiti signed by Governor Ayodele Fayose, he said Ekiti people would never forget the late General for his love for them and for epitomising the great virtues of an Ekiti person.

“General Adeyinka Adebayo was truly an Ekiti man. He was not a bigot and never allowed political considerations to be cloud his sense of fairness, honesty, and boldness in the face of daunting obstacles.

“He would always call a spade a spa de and would not mind whose ox is gored. Despite the political differences between me and his son, Otunba Niyi Adebayo, he was forthright in commending our efforts at developing the state, even though we are among the least financially buoyant. He would not allow sentiments to sway his sense of judgment and was a true father to all.

“He will be sorely missed by Ekiti people and Nigerians in general, butwe areconsoled that he was fulfilled in life and lived up to old age. The good people of Ekiti State sympathise with his immediate family,” he said.

Fa yo se also said his administration would up hold the legacies of the late General. He stated this yesterday in Ikeja, Lagos, when he paid a condolence visit to the family of the deceased.

In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Idowu Adelusi, Governor Fayose said the late General was a man of many parts who wielded power with humility.

“One can imagine the enormous power he wielded as the governor of the old Western State comprising Oyo, Osun, Ogun, Ekiti and Ondo states. He left many legacies and we will uphold them. Baba lived a life well spent and it is not that we are mourning him, but we are celebrating his life.”

The governor also called on the family to let the Ekiti State Government know the update on the burial arrangements.

Son of the deceased, who is also the first civilian governor of Ekiti State, Otunba Niyi Adebayo, in his remarks, described Governor Fayose as “Omo Baba” (Daddy’s son), saying Fayose and his late father had a good rapport.

“When I was welcoming you, I described you as ‘Omo Baba’ because in fairness to you, you had a great rapport with our late Dad. Anytime Baba was in Ekiti you were always there for him. He really appreciated those kind gestures. Like you rightly said, the burial of Baba is not going to be a political affair. Baba was a political and I assure you that we as a family are happy to give our Ba bathe due he de served. We will put up the committees and your nominees will be there,” he said.

Also, the Oluyin of Iyin Ekiti, country home of late Adebayo, Oba A demo la Aja kai ye described his demise as a colossal loss to the community.

Oba Ajakaiye extolled the virtues of the late patriarch of the Adebayo family, describing the late Adebayo as a “patriot, nationalist and great Nigerian who was one of the oldest surviving Generals of the Nigerian army”.

“He created Ekiti into four divisions in Ekiti, South, Central, North and West, with Ado as the capital. Because of this step, Ekiti was able to develop rapidly in all rounds rather than merely developing as a division. This gave birth to further development.

“He was a very disciplined man as a military man. Former president General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (IBB) was his Aide de Camp. President Buhari also worked with him, so did Danjuma”, the monarch added.

Former member of the House of Representatives and native of I yin Ekiti, Hon Opeyemi Bamidele, described General Adebayo as the pioneer of modern Ekiti.

Bamidele said the late General was instrumental to the development of E kit ii na ll spheres, saying he shall be sorely missed by his people.

Also, a member of the seventh House of Representatives, Hon B amide le Fa pa ru si, has said with the death of General Adebayo, Nigeria has against lost one of its fine stand patriotic states men, who see the country as a project that must thrive and survive.

Faparusi, in a condolence message to the deceased’s family, particularly his first son and former Governor of Ekiti State, Otu nb aNiyi Ad eb a yo, appealed to the Ekiti State government to name ahistoric monument after the late retired soldier.

The APC chieftain and governorship aspirant said the country won’t forget the enormous contributions of the elder statesman to the survival of the Nigerian nation, in view of his sterling and gallant dispositions during the civil war that shook the country’ s foundation for three years. Another chieftain of the APC and senatorial aspirant in Ekiti State, Mr. Olusegun Os inko lu, also called on E kit iS tate government to immortalise the late military governor of the Old Western region.

Osinkolu, in a statement in Ado Ekiti yesterday, said the state government must name a befitting monument in memory of the late elder statesman to immortalisehim“for his enormous contributions in building Ekiti and Nigeria of our dream.”

The APC chieftain added that General Adebayo could be regarded as the architect of modern Ekiti, taking cognisance of his contributions in provisions of infrastructure across the state during his reign as the military governor of the Western Region.

Adebayo’s kinsmen have also expressed regret at his residence, where condolences register had been opened in Irepodun/Ifeodun Local Government Area of Ekiti State that he died when the preparations for his 89 th birthday was already in top gear, billed to hold Thursday.

However, when journalists visited Adebayo Estate in the town,sym pa this e rs were already trooping in to condole with the family.

Meanwhile, the government of Edo State has announced opened a condolence register at the Government House in Benin City forlateDr. Ogbemudia who passed on last Friday.

E do government in a statement by the Chief Press Secretary, Mr. John Mayaki (interim), said interested people in the state can send in their condolences on the passing on of the late Brigadier General (rtd).

According to the statement, the register would be open from 8 am to 4pm for seven days starting from March 10 at the Government House in Benin City as well as all the 18 local governments across the state. Besides, the statement said the condolence register will remain open on Saturday and Sunday.

Meanwhile, former Lag os State governor, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Ti nu bu, has described late General Ogb emu di a as a very professional and disciplined military officer. He praised Ogbemudia’s record of infrastructural development as governor of old Mid-western region, saying it was still being appreciated and talked about till today.

In his condolence message over the passing of the retired general issued by his media office weekend in Lagos, the APC National Leadersaid:“I receivedthenews of the death of former military governor of old Midwest Region and ex-governor of Bendel State -now Delta and E do states-Gen. Samuel Osaigbovo Ogbemudia (CON), on Thursday March 9, at 11 pm, early Friday morning.

“Though we never wish that our elders leave us even at an advanced age, General Ogbemudia lived to the age of 84. We are not to mourn his death, but celebrate his life and times. Gen. Ogbemudia was a very professional and disciplined military officer. He played a strategic leadership role in liberating the Midwest region from the hands of the Biafra troops.’