Nigeria’s former military president, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida popularly known as IBB, has reacted to the reports claiming he was searching for a new wife.
Asked in an interview with Daily Trust if he was truly shopping for a new wife, the elder statesman said: “That’s what the media wanted. A lot of people asked me and I said that’s what you (media) said. It is not necessarily what I said.”
Babangida said since the demise of his wife, Maryam Babangida, in 2009, he copes with life by enjoying the company of his children.
“I have very caring and understanding children; they try to fit in where their mother has left,” he said.
Meanwhile, the rumor that Babangida was dead was recently dismissed by his aides who said the former head of state was alive and healthy.
Quoting sources close to the former military ruler, The Nation reports that Babangida, popularly known as IBB is in good mood.
One of the sources had said: “As I am speaking to you now, I am in the house with ‘Baba’. He is wearing a blue ‘babariga’ and is having his lunch.”
According to the former military ruler, the initiative is not sustainable. He commended the initiative but faulted its sustainability.
Babangida said the governors may not be able to foot the needed expenses for this new security outfit in the long run.
“They must equip them, you must pay them salaries. You must give them all the welfare they need. That is going to be a problem for the states. Where will they get the money to foot those bills?
“If they have succeeded in convincing the federal government to put out some part of the revenue for the purposes of that, I can understand that, but if they take it on themselves, it is going to be a problem,” he said.