/ 12 April 2010

Former Nigerian military ruler to run for president

Nigeria's former military leader, Ibrahim Babangida, is planning a political comeback nearly 25 years after he first came to power.

Nigeria’s former military leader, Ibrahim Babangida, is planning a political comeback by running for president nearly 25 years after he first came to power in a bloodless coup, his spokesperson said on Monday.

Babangida (68) seized power in August 1985 and went on to rule Africa’s most populous nation for nearly eight years. He was forced to step down in 1993 after he cancelled an election that was generally regarded as fair.

“Yes, General Babangida has decided to contest for the presidency under the [People’s Democratic Party] in the 2011 presidential election,” spokesperson Kassim Afeagbu told Reuters.

“He is only waiting for the party timetable before he will formally declare.”

He is the first major politician to publicly announce his intention to run, and he will campaign for a smaller federal government focused mainly on defence, foreign policy and the economy, leaving the rest to the states and local councils.

The ruling PDP party is expected to hold primaries in the next few months to choose their presidential candidate for the general election, which must be held by April 2011.

The race for president is expected to be wide open since many believe ailing President Umaru Yar’Adua will not seek re-election.

Acting President Goodluck Jonathan has assumed executive powers in the absence of Yar’Adua, who remains too sick to govern and has been out of the public eye since November.

Though 17 years have elapsed, Babangida’s reputation has not fully recovered since he annulled the poll, in a move that paved the way for another army dictator, Sani Abacha, to take over. — Reuters