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One day, you'll know why I annulled June 12, says Babangida
From Hendrix Oliomogbe, Benin
FORMER military President, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida at the weekend fielded questions from journalists on public perception of his eight-year-rule, annulment of the June 12, 1993 presidential election, and his desire to contest for the presidency come 2007.
Pressed for an interview at the fa?ade of Edo State Governor Lucky Igbinedion's country home in Okada, Edo State, the amoured general said that his future plans were in God's hands.
The former ruler, who annulled the 1993 presidential election, which was believed to have been won by late business mogul, Bashorun Moshood Abiola was in Okada for the convocation ceremony of the privately owned Igbinedion University.
His wife and former first lady, Maryam, was also honoured with a Doctorate of Letters Degree.
At the end of ceremony, he drove with the Edo State governor for lunch. Apparently over, Babangida was on his way to Benin, about 45 minutes drive from Okada, to pick a plane when he ran into journalists. The dialogue went thus:
You are a member of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). With the kind of negative impression, some Nigerians have of the PDP-led administration, where are we headed?
We are not doing badly. We will get there.
Let's talk about your 2007 ambition. People believe that you misruled the country and yet you want to stage a come-back. Why?
(smile) Misrule means what?
After annulling the 1993 elections, you think it is proper to want to come back in 2007? Was there anything you forgot at Aso Rock Villa that you` want to pick after eight years of your military misrule?
How old were you when I annulled the election?. You wouldn't be old enough to understand the politics then. May be, one day, we will talk about it. You will get to understand.
Don't you think you are insulting the sensibility of Nigerians by wanting to come back after annulling the 1993 election and Abiola died in the process?
I left in 1993 and Abiola died in 1998. Again, you journalist...
Do you think you stand any chance against incumbent Vice-President Atiku Abubakar in 2007?
Everything belongs to God.
What is your agenda for 2007. Was there anything you feel you didn't achieve between 1985 and 1993? Why do you want to come back?
After giving you a lecture on what Nigeria stands for and what Nigeria is, I can talk to you for about a year because you are only a small boy.
A pull from behind by some plain-clothes security men abruptly terminated the interview.
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