Sensing there is trouble down the road, many supporters of former dictator General Ibrahim Babangida have decamped into the side of another retired general, Mamman Kontagora. The news comes against the backdrop of reports that the PDP may disqualify Babangida.
While the Evil Genius busy purchasing his 2007 presidential nomination form from the People Democratic Party's national secretariat on November 8, 2006, the Bauchi state office of the Mamman Tsoho Kontagora Presidential Campaign Organization was busy receiving decampees from the IBB camp.
Receiving the 67 decampees at a colourful ceremony, held at the Kontagora campaign secretariat, Bauchi, the state coordinator, Alhaji Kussaini Mai Jama’a, revealed that out of the number 14 were elected as wards delegate of the PDP during the November 4 ward elections, while some held several positions within the IBB group.
According to him, Kontagora’s presidential ambition was born out of persistent pressure from eminent Nigerians and politicians of substance, who rated him, as one of the most credible personalities in Africa that can serve humanity with all honesty and sincerity of purpose, adding that, “General Mamman Tsoho Kontagora is not a wealthy general, he has not amassed wealth and has no money to throw around, but has integrity, good reputation, respect and discipline, as some of the qualities that convinced the new entrants to join the struggle.”
He opined that, the Kontagora campaign organization does not believe in politics of deceit, name-dropping or flamboyancy, but is determined to educate the people on the qualities needed from a leader and what the aspirant stands to chive as president, if he eventually emerges victorious in 2007 election stressing that, “Nigerian would be proud to have such a wonderful personality as a president in 2007 and would definitely not regret to have voted him to power by the grace of the Almighty God.”
The state coordinator further noted that, even in Niger state, where there are presently three presidential aspirants, Kontagora is respected and rated as the most sincere, result-oriented and would secure the required percentage of delegates, votes at the national convention of the PDP, urging the new entrants to see themselves as lucky for realizing the path of truth and be determined to contribute their quota for the actualization of the ambition.
Responding, a spokesman of the decampees, Engineer Haziel Adamu Mukata, said that, their entry into the Kontagora organization is not only a blessing, but an indication that the aspirant is the rightful person for the PDP ticket, if the party is genuinely interested in remaining in power and as the largest political party in Africa.
He emphasized that, “money is not our concern, we are after the best, we want a listening president who can perform without asking, as Kontagora bailed out Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria from imminent collapse.”
