Lagos — Former military president, General Ibrahim Babangida, failed to show up yesterday at the rally he planned to declare his presidential bid in Ibadan, the Oyo state capital, after threats from students and pro-Jonathan groups in the state.
The ex-president, a close source told LEADERSHIP, had shelved his planned rally because of threats by National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS, to disrupt the proposed rally.
The students, in a press statement, warned Babangida to steer clear of the South West in his bid to contest the 2011 presidential election.
The state governor, Otunba Adebayo Alao-Akala had earlier issued same warning that IBB was not welcomed in Ibadan, when he declared support for President Goodluck Jonathan to contest next year's election.
The Oyo State Coordinator of Jonathan and Sambo Consolidation 2011, Chief Alli Balogun, in a statement, had earlier predicted that IBB's planned visit to the ancient town would be fruitless.
Balogun said IBB's visit to the state did not mean anything to the group because he was sure that nothing tangible would come out of it.
A member of the IBB 2011 Coalition said the rally was cancelled because they could not guarantee the former president's security as a result of the students' threat.
But LEADERSHIP efforts to speak to Alhaji Adekunle Makama of the IBB 2011 Coalition, the umbrella body of the retired General's various campaign groups in the South-West, proved abortive.
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We've said it several times that IBB is not a contest where legitimate Nigerians are wining and dining. Professor Shoyinka has said and demonstrated this many times. A hog like IBB must go and wallow in his ill-gotten billions while it lasts.He needs to wake up and smell the coffee, in the world he leaves it's night fall, let him go to bed for good who cares, but in present day Nigeria it is a fresh day. Before he gets his first kobo from his parents, was there the tenet that "money is the root of all evil" let all the money himself and family are lusting after during his rule, save his failure now. To those Nigerians who lust after money like IBB, your times will soon be over, wicked souls. Whether he contests or not his days freedom are simply over he must answer for his evil deeds, people he killed and billions that disappeared during his illegal forceful governance of Nigeria, Shikena.
IBB, ARE YOU NOT ASHAME OF YOUR SELF. IBB 4 ,8 YEARS YOU HAVE BEEN IN POWER, WHAT ELSE DO U WANT. IBB YOU DISTROYED THE STATE,WHAT DO YOU WANT. IBB WE HATE YOU, THANK ALL THE STUDENT, SOUTH WEST ,SOUTH SOUTH AND SOUTH EAST ARE MOVING TOGETHER TO STOP THE MOST CORRUPT MAN. IT IS THE TIME OF SOUTH EAST TO PRODUCE THE NEXT PRESIDENT, OR NIGERIA WILL DIVID INTO 2. SOUTH EAST IS PART OF NIGERIA,. we the south east have been MARGINERLIZED 4 SO LONG, WE CAN NOT CONTUNE TO BE A SLAVE TO OUR NATION. ANY BODY THAT SURPORT IBB IS ENEMY TO THE STATE,. POWER TO THE PEOPLE, OJUKWU , STAY AWAY FROM IBB. IGBO SHOULD UNITE TOGETHER. THE NORTHERN REFUSE ALEX EKWUEME TO BE, PRESIDENT, WE WILL NOT ALOW YOU TO HAVE YOUR WAY AGAIN.
The Yorubas should be cowards to honour IBB in any part of Yoruba land.The Youths should gather enough stones and be ready to give him the shower he deserves if he dares to set his devilish feet on any part of Yoruba land.