The national leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) yesterday entered into closed-door meetings with two former leaders, Gen Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida and Gen Abdulsalami Abubakar, at their Hilltop residences in Minna, Niger State.

Four APC leaders – General Muhammadu Buhari,  Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Bisi Akande and deputy chairman of the party and former speaker of the House of Representatives Aminu Masari – arrived in IBB’s residence about 11:40am and ended their meeting around 12:50pm before arriving in Abdulsalami’s home around 1pm.

Emerging from the meeting, Babangida told journalists that their discussions bordered on Nigeria and the way to leave political and economic legacy for Nigerians.

According to IBB, the issues discussed went beyond political party. “Nigeria first before PDP; we are talking about Nigeria,” he said, when asked whether he was being wooed into APC by the leaders. “Those of us who are patriots always want to see this country moving. Anybody who feels concerned, who comes, is welcome to consult with us, and we have to find a way forward for this generation. That is all we are doing for you.”

Asked to comment on the agenda of the meeting that lasted over one hour, IBB said: “It has to do with your welfare, wellbeing, education, security, and economic wellbeing of the nation.” He stated that the meeting bordered on “anything people will do to promote this country, to move it forward so that you don’t abuse or accuse us of allegedly not leaving legacy for your generation”.

At Abdulsalami’s residence, the former head of state stated, “I’m not a politician but the APC leaders have come to inform me about the merging of the political parties forming APC and how far they have gone and how things are moving.”

When asked whether the party had come to woo him also, Abdulsalami retorted: “I am not a partisan politician and don’t need to be wooed…I have told them that all of us need peace in this country and we must try to maintain it.”

On his expectation of political parties in Nigeria, Abdulsalami stated: “Any political party in Nigeria is either trying to be in government or to be in opposition, and I think all Nigerians should try to play their citizenship right of making their choices and doing what they think is right for their party.

“Whether you are in the opposition or in government in the various ways of your manifestos, the parties are serving this country and at least the parties should know that you cannot have two parties in government — only one party. So whatever role they find themselves in, they should play that role very well.”
General Buhari, who spoke briefly to journalists at IBB’s residence, said that they were visiting the leaders for a wide consultation for the good of the nation.

Another leader of the party, Ahmed Bola Tinubu, stated that the meetings with the leaders were about the wellbeing of the people of Nigeria especially the futures of the younger ones. “We have to advocate for a future that belongs to all of us, a stable country that will promote peace and prosperity,” he stated.

“A lot of our leaders have been there before now; they have seen the nation through thick and thin and they have governed Nigeria; so we are consulting with them, so we need to look to the future.”

The interim national chairman of APC, Bisi Akande, also told journalists: “What we discussed centred on the future of Nigeria.” He added that they would meet all leaders including PDP leaders.

Read more: Leadership Newspapers