ABEOKUTA — FORMER President Ibrahim Babangida’s quest for the 2007 presidency kicked off weekend in Abeokuta with brother of the acclaimed winner of the June 12, 1993 Presidential Election, Bashorun MKO Abiola, Mubashiru, accepting to the patronship of the campaign organisation, IBB Vision 2007.
Members of the IBB Vision 2007, as part of the launching activities, had visited Alhaji Mubashiru Abiola’s house at Sabo in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital where he was offered the patronship which he gladly accepted. Led by the National Co-ordinator of the organisation, Alhaji Ahmed Makama and a member of the board of trustees, Mrs Mulikat Shonekan, the group had paid a visit to Bashorun MKO Abiola’s house at Sabo without anybody there to receive them before moving to his brother, Mubashiru’s place also in the area where they were received by the head of the Abiola family.
Alhaji Makama expressed IBB’s readiness and resolve to take good care of the Abiola family, adding that he was in the house to express IBB’s felicitations and to welcome them into the team campaigning for the election of the former military president.
“IBB has decided to come back and right the wrongs. It is a known fact that both families, IBB's and MKO's, have many things in common and I wish to express IBB’s readiness to be there for the Abiola family.
“In spite of all odds, and no matter the threats from Vice President Atiku Abubakar, General Muhammadu Buhari and Brigadier Buba Marwa, IBB, Insha Allah, will be installed President of Nigeria in 2007,” Makama said.
Responding, Alhaji Mubashiru Abiola whose house is currently under renovation accepted the new role as patron of IBB Vision 2007 offered him and prayed for the group’s success. Deferring comments for another day, Alhaji Abiola said: “I don’t have much to say today and for now, I reserve my comments but I accept to serve as patron wholeheartedly.”
Earlier at the Akin-Olugbade Social Centre, venue of the launching which is a stone's throw from President Olusegun Obasanjo’s Ita Iyalode home, Alhaji Makama had said that former President Babangida was prepared to apologise to all Nigerians for the annulment of the June 12, 1993 presidential election if that was what Nigerians needed.
He said that IBB was not coming to enrich himself but to cater for the collective interest of the teeming populace, adding that with IBB as president, all issues of ethnic imbalances would be effectively addressed.
“IBB supported Obasanjo in 1999, he brought the power to the South-West and the same IBB will take power to the North in 2007 Insha Allah,” he said.
The launching, however, suffered a setback with the non-attendance by the Ogun State Governor, Otunba Olugbenga Daniel, who was listed on the invitation card as chief launcher while a notable businessman in the Ogun State capital, Alhaji Fatai Gbemisola, who was listed as father of the day disowned the group.
Alhaji Gbemisola in a radio announcement had said he was not a patry to the organisation and that he was not a politician. Among those who witnessd the launching were Senator Remi Okunrinboye, representative of Mrs. Mariam Babangida; Hajia Abbas, Alhaji Yusuf Alhasan, Mr. Emmanuel Oti and Mr. Rotimi Akinsola all of whom were said to be national officers of IBB Vision 2007.
