[b]By SaharaReporters, New York

Former military dictator, Ibrahim Babangida today made a splash of his looted wealth at the Eagle Square, Abuja, standing in the midst of rented crowds and politicians without constituencies to formally declare his long-shot ambition to run for the presidency.

Sources told Saharareporters that in order to make today’s event a “success,” Babangida’s hired guns rented crowds from Zamfara, Niger  and Sokoto states for the big splash in Abuja.

The gamble had Goodluck Jonathan, who is desperate to win the presidency on his own steam, panicking.   Jonathan had forced operatives of the People's Democratic Party (PDP) to schedule an emergency meeting as a way of countering Babangida's declaration today but Babangida’s tepid momentum and the and the divided loyalties of PDP executive members saw that meeting postponed. Infact the governor of Niger State made reference to that in his speech, he applauded the courage of the PDP leadership in allowing the "peoples voice to prevail" by extending the time for the emergency NEC meeting which made it possible for himself and Governor Shinkafi to be present at the event.
Jonathan had also risen early today to issue a declaration on Facebook about his intention to run for the presidency.  That move seemed to have been intended to steal the thunder from Babangida's political declaration at the Eagle Square.  Jonathan's Internet efforts hit the wires early, and dampened the enthusiasm of Babangida's rented crowds.
Jonathan plans a massive outing on Saturday, but his success is dicey, as the state governors currently supporting him on the surface are known to be playing him.  Although only two of the governors—Niger State's Babangida Aliyu and IBB’s in-law from Zamfara, Mr. Shinkaffi—attended Babangida's inauguration today, many more of them were responsible for placing a crowd in front of IBB for the Eagles Square rally.
A political analyst told Saharareporters today that even if Jonathan has to wobble through the PDP primaries, he would still win it, thereby forcing Babangida out of the presidential race entirely.
Babangida’s declaration today was attended by Ken Nnamani, the former Senate president who helped frustrate Olusegun Obasanjo’s third term ambition but who may today have dented his political status irretrievably; the former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Ghaali Naaba; Senator Nuhu Aliyu, Chief Alex Akinyele, a former Minister of Information , former Governor of Rivers State, Peter Odili and Senator Jubril Aminu.  Also present was a strong delegation from Bayelsa State, purportedly sponsored by Governor Tim Sylva, who opposes Jonathan's presidential bid but pretends to support it out of fear of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

In his declaration speech, Babangida scored himself high grades in his 8 year regime which he said built the foundation for the nation’s present democratic experience. He however acknowledged that many suffered as a result of the social engineering efforts executed by his regime which he said was not different from the experiences in societies where such magnitude of social engineering efforts were carried out. He further stated that his participation in 2011 Presidential Election is a reality.

Jonathan, who is growing restless about the manipulations within the PDP, plans to boost his campaigns in the South South region by pardoning his former boss, DSP Alamieyeseigha of his conviction for corruption.  A copy of the letter sent to the Attorney General of the Federation proposes such a pardon for next month, October 2010.  The intention is to enable Alamieyeseigha assist Jonathan in reaching deep into the Niger Delta region to campaign for his presidency, but it would also confirm that Jonathan would rather cling to the presidency at all cost rather than fight corruption.

Reports from Abuja also indicate that Jonathan is prepared to put his political interests ahead of Nigeria’s.  While he is expected to formally declare his presidential bid next Saturday, September 18, he had previously planned to leave for the United Nations General Assembly on Sunday, 19th.
Saharareporters has learned he will be protecting his presidential ambitions by deferring his trip to New York until September 22nd.   That means Nigeria will again miss a number of High Level events at the United Nations, as she has done in the past few years.  Those activities include a High Level event on Climate Change, and the High Level Plenary on the Millennium Development Goals tagged, “We Can End Poverty 2015.”[/b]


http://www.saharareporters.com/news-page/amidst-isolated-politicians-and-rented-crowd-babangida-declares-presidential-bid