General Ibrahim Babangida (IBB) Is Happy: Emergence of APC:

Former Military President, General Ibrahim Babangida (IBB) has expressed his overwhelming joy over the emergence of the All Progressive Congress (APC), saying that it is good for the political development of the
country; hence, a welcome development. The former Military General noted that his earlier position on the need for two party system has been justified. Babangida, told newsmen in Minna, Niger State capital on Thursday that when he proposed the two-party system to Nigeria, he recieved serious criticism from different quarters. According to IBB, Nigeria is heading towards two-party system which is good for the transformation of the nation’s political system. He said, “I was a very good advocate of two-party system; when I said two, you said I was a soldier; now you have seen reason. I think I am happy.” Asked whether the development would pose a problem for his party (PDP), Babangida retorted, “PDP or my party? Which one is my party? PDP was my party” and refused to comment further. Pressed further on the problems within the Governors’ Forum and other crises within the PDP, Babangida said, “I read a column this week about many fora talking about this and that, but what of the ordinary man? It is his vote that determines everything in this country. We should not continue to waste our energy talking about appointments when you don’t allow ordinary man to be involved. “The ordinary man does not know what is happening. You have not been able to ginger the ordinary man to believe in a cause to fight for. Unless we achieve that, we still have a lot to do.” When asked his position regarding the economy especially as former US president, Bill Clinton recently stated that the nation’s oil wealth had been wasted, Babangida said, “You don’t need a foreigner to tell you; you write it yourself and they read it.” The former military leader also spoke on the need for the government to provide of sound education, stating that the country’s major problem is education. Babangida urged both the government and the private sector to invest more in education for national growth and development.