General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida finds a new wife

Nearly two years since the death of the former First Lady Mrs. Maryam Babangida, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida is set to marry another wife, the former military ruler said in Minna yesterday.

He dismissed rumours making the rounds that he had secretly re-married, but said there were plans for him to take a new bride.

General Babangida spoke to reporters on the occasion of his 70th birthday, saying the type of person Nigeria should have as a leader should be one that has a name to protect. He also said the introduction of a six years’ elongated but single term for the president and state governors as is being canvassed by President Goodluck Jonathan will not be a solution to Nigeria’s problems. The desire for a second term in office should actually compel leaders to perform, he said.

Babangida condemned the argument put forward by some analysts that there should be two vice presidents for the country with one coming from the state that produced the president so that if the president dies, the VP from his state automatically takes over. He said what he wants to see for the country instead is a constitutional amendment that contains a protection for the common man and also guarantees education for all the children in the country.

Speaking on the former Ahmadu Bello University [ABU], Zaria lecturer Dr. Patrick Wilmot, who was deported during his administration, Babangida said he only came to know that Wilmot was deported when there was a public outcry. He said he did not direct for the deportation, but he believed that Wilmot was deported by the security agencies in the course of discharging their responsibilities.