Hassan Jallo, a close associate to Gen. Ibrahim Babangida, has revealed the true outcome of the meeting between President Goodluck Jonathan and the former military president.
The Nation reports that Jallo debunked speculations of Babangida endorsing Jonathan for next month’s presidential election while speaking in Kaduna on Sunday.
He explained that what Babangida and Jonathan discussed were “security issues and the unity of Nigeria”.
Jallo further stated that the former military president promised to support Jonathan in the aspect of the security challenges facing the country, insisting that it did not mean that Babangida endorsed Jonathan for re-election.
“I am saying this on behalf of IBB… So, don’t expect him to descend very low to come out himself and debunk this so-called endorsement of President Jonathan. I am saying this for him, and I believe the endorsement is the creation of the media,” he said.
Jallo, who revealed that he was not at the meeting, explained that information made available to him hinted that Jonathan was only there to consult with Babangida on the challenges facing the nation and the way forward.
According to him, issues relating to endorsement or 2015 elections were not part of their discussions, and reiterated that Babangida has not endorsed any of the presidential candidates.
He also maintained that the former military president is a strong member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), but cleared the air that the former head of state’s comment was misinterpreted for Jonathan’s endorsement in the general elections.
“President Jonathan is not the first to visit the former head of state. Other presidential aspirants and leaders have paid him visit, regardless of their political parties for one consultation or the other. I want you to quote me very well that IBB has not endorsed Jonathan or any other presidential candidate for the 2015 presidential race. Jonathan requested to visit him. And he couldn’t have turned down a president’s request as an elder statesman. There is no man like IBB in Nigeria of today. I therefore urge media men to express professionalism in their reportage to avoid misleading the public,” he said.
It would be recalled that Babangida and Jonathan reportedly had a closed-door meeting on December 27, 2015, where the former military head of state was said to have urged Nigerians to support Jonathan in the next-year’s elections.
