I’ll declare presidential ambition at appropriate time, says Atiku after meeting Babangida

Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, on Tuesday, visited Ibrahim Babangida, former military head of state.

The meeting lasted for about an hour and was held behind closed doors.

After the meeting with Babangida, the former vide-president also paid a visit to Abubakar Sani-Bello, governor of Niger state.

The development comes days after Bola Tinubu, a presidential aspirant and chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), visited Babangida to “receive prayers” ahead of the 2023 election.

Speaking to journalists after the meeting on Tuesday, Atiku said he visited Niger to commiserate with the government and people of the state over the recent attacks by bandits.

“I only came on a courtesy visit to the governor and to commiserate with him and people of the state over the incessant banditry in Niger state,” he said.

“I just discussed with the governor on the insecurity in the state and from what I heard, it is a very serious and pathetic situation and it is most unfortunate.”

When asked about his presidential aspiration, Abubakar said: “I have only come on a visit, I will let you know about my presidential ambition at the appropriate time.”

However, while the former vice-president is yet to formally declare his interest in contesting the presidency in 2023, Raymond Dokpesi, a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain who heads Abubakar’s presidential campaign technical committee, has been traversing the country to promote him to Nigerians.