TheCable

Muhammadu Buhari, presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) on Monday in Minna, capital of Niger state, met Ibrahim Babangida, former military president, with reports after the meeting indicating that Buhari was “endorsed” for next month’s election by his host.

Yemi Osinbajo, the presidential running mate of APC, was first to make the claim in a tweet, saying “General Babangida has thrown his weight behind General Buhari. He says Buhari is the right man to move Nigeria forward.”

Dino Melaye, APC candidate for the Kogi west senatorial district in the national assembly election, re-echoed Osinbajo’s claims.

“IBB endorses Buhari, IBB says ‘We will all support Buhari to be president,'” he wrote.

Begging your pardon. General Babangida has thrown his weight behind General Buhari. He says Buhari is the right man to move Nigeria forward.

— Prof Yemi Osinbajo (@ProfOsinbajo) January 19, 2015

Buhari went up to IBB’s room alone, spent 15 mins inside to pray, he forgot his glasses there. Now I understand the very firm,solid and trust.

— Otunba Dino Melaye (@dino_melaye) January 19, 2015

IBB says “we will all support Buhari to be President.

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— Otunba Dino Melaye (@dino_melaye) January 19, 2015

IBB endorses Buhari

— Otunba Dino Melaye (@dino_melaye) January 19, 2015

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Babangida with Jonathan in December

In December, IBB met Goodluck Jonathan, Buhari”s opponent at the election, and said at the meeting that anyone who meant well for the country should support the president.

“What I will say is simple: the president means well for this country and he is working well for this country,” Babangida was quoted as saying.

“Anybody who means well for this country should support the president to make sure that Nigeria survives as a united country.”

Jonathan had described the “father-and-son” meeting with Babangida as “fruitful”, saying he visited the former military leader because he just returned from a medical trip abroad.

“Of course, you know that this is the end of the year. Within this period, people pay visits. So I have come to visit him,” Jonathan said.

“You know he just came back from a hospital abroad, not too long ago. Since he came back, we have not seen. I need to see my father to know how he is feeling. I am quite pleased the way I have seen him.”