By DANIEL Idonor, Wole Mosadomi & Dapo Akinrefon

ABUJA- Former Military President, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida has given notice of his intention to marry a new wife following the demise of his wife, Dr. Maryam Babangida.



 
In an exclusive interview with Vanguard ahead of his 70th birthday today, Gen. Babangida debunked claims that he secretly married a wife about four months ago asserting such a marriage existed only in the imagination of some section of the media.

In the wide ranging interview, Babangida linked the military intervention led by Gen. Sani Abacha that sacked the interim government of Chief Ernest Shonekan to the agitation of civil society even as he justified his support for Chief Olusegun Obasanjo in the 1999 presidential election as the best decision at that time. He rated Obasanjo a success based on the fundamental parameter of unifying the country which he said informed his selection at that time.

On speculations that he had secretly married, "I have not re-married. You are not the only one who heard. A close friend of mine heard and came to the house to find out. I took him around to all the rooms a wife would have been if I re-married. It is the soft sell media that would like to make huge sales that come up with that type of story," he told Vanguard.

But in a session with selected newsmen in Minna yesterday Babangida gave notice of his readiness to marry.


"Yes, I will get a new wife, no name yet but I know what I want and who is coming into this house and one thing I cannot also tell you now is when exactly she is coming in."

Gen. Babangida who was full of life and radiating with smiles throughout the interactive session said he gives glory to God for successfully navigating the turbulence that characterized political office especially as a Military President.

He, however, ruled himself out from further partisan political pursuit saying:

"I am now 70 years. By 2015, I will be about 75 years so at that age, what would I still be looking for. Count me out. That time, I will be in Minna to attend to people who call on me for political and other consultations," the former military president said.

Recalling his saddest moments in life, Gen. Babangida said it was when he lost his bosom friend simply identified as Lt. Col Mohammed in 1974 who he said died in a crash and also the death of his wife, Maryam.

He, however, recounted his most joyful moments to be the day he got married and when he was appointed the military president for the country after a successful military coup.

Gen. Babangida described the public execution of his bosom friend and colleague, Gen. Vatsa following allegations of a coup plot as the most traumatizing decision ever taken in his life. He prayed never to find himself in such a position again.

According to him, "it was a military law which could not be amended. We all got caught up in the coup Decree of 1976 which gave no room for an alternative but only death through public execution. If I tell you that it was not traumatizing, I must be lying and I pray I will never find myself in such a situation again."

The former military president also touched on other National issues such as the amendment of the constitution of the country, the re-occurring June 12 issue and the way forward for the country.

Jonathan congratulates IBB

President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday congratulated Babangida on the occasion of his 70th birthday which comes up today. A statement by Dr Reuben Abati, prayed God Almighty to bless him with "many more years of robust health, prosperity and continued distinguished service to our nation.”"Looking back over the past 70 years, I am sure that you, your family and indeed your larger family of associates and admirers do have cause to be grateful to Almighty God for having granted you a life of great accomplishment and abiding fulfillment."

"You did not only rise to the pinnacle of your chosen career in the military, you also rose to become President of Nigeria for eight years," President Jonathan wrote.

http://odili.net/news/source/2011/aug/17/318.html

I wouldn't put it pass IBB that he also killed Maryam.

I hope he isnt marrying another mans wife just as he did to Bongo Sique, IBB has been known for snatching peoples wives and girlfriends, i guess he is going to take some advice from Sani Yerima to marry a 9 year old girl,

re-marry at 70? haba, den take toto swear for you?no wonder that gorrila called you a fool at 70 _{hisses and walks away}

wtf does he mean 'was appointed head of state after a successful coup'.wasn't he an active participant (the first time a general will be doing so) and didnt he personally arrest buhari in dodan barrack

maryam wasnt the only wife, so who is the jobless reporter asking senseless questions?

IBB i beg u in d name of GOd, pls don't go and snatch someone else's wife again o. so at 70 dis man is kicking fine(virile).

Sun of god:

I wouldn't put it pass IBB that he also killed Maryam.

na buratanshi{local viagra} the fool at 70 dey use to do the magic

its his life, wetin concern me, if u like marry 10 more,

Only IBB himself! when his mates are dying at 70 IBB is not going down without a fight and some pleasures. If u wonder why the rest of the world shivers when they see a "Nigerian" just look at IBB and you will conclusively understand why.

that is entirely his problem and no one elses.

one point agenda in republic of Boko Harams,nice

I just hope he won't marry an underage girl because that will be rape.

Human beings sef.   Tell me if he go Bleep his daughter-in-law una go complain. The man wan marry una dey complain. Abi him tell una say him be Reverend Father? Marriage is not just about sex. It gives you peace of mind and tranquility in your life. Its good to love and be loved. IBB, I no be your fan but for this one, I support you 100%, as its more decent to marry than to be going after house and hotel maids. We need to be objective.

I guess that is a personal problem and not Nigeria's. Well, body no be firewood he is human. All ladies,all road lead to Niger state.

st-kris:

that is entirely his problem and no one elses.

thats is own problem not any ones else

NONSENSE AND RUBBISH , they should be asking him about how he looted our commonwealth, and about all the atrocities he committed; instead they are indulging him in playing out his senile fantasies.

I think IBB may even kill 'Satan' when he enters hell.


Its well within his capabilities.

SO?!
this man should stop sharing anything with us

WE DON'T CARE.

if you like marry 70 wives how will that help us.

And how is this supposed to improve the Nigerian economy?

justice is still at hand, u guys .
see mubarak of egypti .
obj and ibb , dont oversleep oh.

I pity the unfortunate woman

[size=20pt]Lago Melo?[/size]

why is this man still allowed to walk around in nigeria as a free man?

he is still carrying on with  his life and even talking about re marrying at the grand old age of 70 when many young people in nigeria may never know what its like to live  a happy and fulfilled life due to the economically destructive policies that he put in place over 20 years ago. Policies which have condemned the majority  of nigerians to a life of endless poverty. what kind of a world are we living in where criminals are honoured and respected while the honourable are ridiculed.

There are many singles in romance section of nairaland,maybe he can get what he's looking for there.

He can go to unilag and pack all those blackberry babes disgracing themselves on twitter with
their sex-for-money escapades.

IBB is planning to take a new wife,  so what ! How does that concern Nigeria and Nigerians. The idiot can publicly announce himself a bastard man-lover for all I care. He should go to hell. Wonders shall never cease, if care is not taking, this animal will definitely one day announce in Nigeria's news paper that he wants to eat "Kilishi",  Let him take "Rago" for a wife,  we Nigerians are less concerned. Lest I forget, he should take his mind off the fact that Nigerians would ever come to him when it comes to state issues,  Dan bansa !

Egbon Olu:

IBB is planning to take a new wife,  so what ! How does that concern Nigeria and Nigerians. The  can publicly announce himself a bastard man-lover for all I care. He should go to hell. Wonders shall never cease, if care is not taking, this animal will definitely one day announce in Nigeria's news paper that he wants to eat "Kilishi",  Let him take "Rago" for a wife,  we Nigerians are less concerned. Lest I forget, he should take his mind off the fact that Nigerians would ever come to him when it comes to state issues,  Dan bansa !

i totally support you,however, i don't blame him,insted i blame our media asking him such irrelevant question when there are other pressing questions they could've asked him

all I want know is: when is IBB going to jail?

how bout all im boyfriends? after killin maryam with cervical cancer he dey find who im go give long-term P.I.D.