2023 Presidency: IBB Speaks On His Choice Of Candidate

Former military head of state, General Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida (rtd), popularly called IBB has revealed some specific attributes who his ideal candidate for the 2023 presidential election.

Trixx reports that national leader of All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, Governor Dave Umahi of Ebonyi State, Publisher of Ovation Magazine, Dele Momodu and former Abia State Governor Orji Uzor Kalu have indicated interest in the Presidency.

Many groups are also campaigning for Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, ex- Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello and Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State.

IBB during a recent interview with Trust TV, however, didn’t mention any particular name.

According to the former president, the person who should take over from President Muhammadu Buhari should among other things, be a young person, who is conversant with happenings in the country and has good communication skills.

He said the next president must be able to address Nigerians on issues bothering them and must have distinguished himself/herself in a particular field with traceable track records.

“It is not who do I have in mind but who fits in; any person who fits in within these criteria, then he is the right person as long as he is a Nigerian; he is a politician, he is not old like I am; he is very conversant with the country, he communicates, he is a very good communicator,” IBB replied when asked about the particular person who should become the next president of Nigeria in 2023.

He added that “he should be able to communicate because a president should be able to walk into a group of people and talk to them on issues concerning Nigeria; not all the time but most of the time.

“He must have somebody he knows in every part of the country. It is not a tall order. You could limit it to states, you could limit it to local governments even to the wards if you can but somebody such that once you hear the name, it is somebody you will say, yes, I have heard that name before either in the country or in his profession; if he is a doctor, a journalist or whatever, all areas, we have heard the name before; okay then I will make an effort to know more about him.”

Without mentioning a particular name, IBB stated that such candidates with the listed qualities may be found among the current crop of politicians in the country.

“Well, I believe the process will take care of that. Within the process, of those people you mentioned now, there are people who could fit into this category and I believe the process can take care of that,” he said.