Former military president, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida, has said that Nigeria needs “genuine democrats” to rescue the country from its current challenges.

Babangida stated that Nigeria needs democrats who will truly connect the government and the citizens, handle national security with more seriousness, and bring the citizens back from woes to development.

The ex-military president made this known during a visit by the leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to his hilltop residence in Minna, Niger State, on Tuesday.

He further lamented at the situation of things in the country, saying there was no choice before Nigerians but a concerted effort to salvage the nation from its present situation.

“As the guardrail of democracy, you need to be guided by the history of the country; our past, our present conditions and an appropriate vision of a future for the millions of young people on our streets and the younger generations to follow,” he said.

The former military leader further noted that what the nation needs at the moment is a leadership of “genuine democrats, those who truly connect the government and the governed and banish sycophancy, handle national security with more seriousness in all its ramifications, properly earn and retain legitimacy, and above all, bring citizens back from woes and wailing and Nigeria, to the path of nationhood and development.

“For the sake of our founding fathers and unborn generations of Nigerians, we have no choice but to make the appropriate turn to salvage our dear country at the crossroads,” Babangida said.

Speaking earlier, the PDP National Chairman, Dr. Iyorchia Ayu, called on the former military president, not to relent in his efforts towards the unity, stability and development of the country.

Ayu, who led members of the PDP National Working Committee (NWC) and other leaders of the party to the visit, informed Babangida that they were on the visit to tap from his experience and wisdom to tackle the challenges confronting the country.

“We came to tap from your extensive experience and wisdom as a leader and one of the founding fathers of the PDP, particularly at this time that our dear country is facing so much insecurity, division and economic hardship due to the misrule of the APC. We implore you not to relent in ensuring that the unity and development of the country which you and other patriotic Nigerians fought so hard to sustain,” the PDP national chairman said.

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He added that the main opposition party “is repositioned and poised to take over governance from the APC and bring the much-desired good governance, unity and development that have eluded the nation under the APC.”

Some of the PDP leaders, who visited the former military president, are: former Governor of Niger State, Dr. Babangida Aliyu; former Deputy Governor of Niger State, Dr. Shem Nuhu; former PDP National Chairman, Dr. Okwesilieze Nwodo; former ministers, Prof. Jerry Gana, Hon Hassan Gimba, Hon Abubakar Achituwo, and Hajiya Zainab Maina.

Others are Sen. Zainab Abdulkadir Kure, Chief Tom Ikimi, Sen. Dino Melaye, Amb. Ishaya Mujambo, Niger State PDP Chairman, Bar. Tanko Beji; Niger State Woman Leader, Haj Sa’adatu Kolo, among many others.

While the members of the NWC at the meeting include the Deputy National Chairman (North), Alhaji Umar Damagum; National Secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu; National Woman Leader, Prof. Stella Effah-Attoe; the National Treasurer, Ahmed Mohammed, and the National Publicity Secretary, Hon. Debo Ologunagba.

TheStar