Former Nigerian President, Olusegun Obasanjo, arrived in Minna, Niger State, on Sunday evening for a high-profile meeting with former Head of State, General Ibrahim Babangida. This meeting, which brought together some of Nigeria’s most influential political and military figures, took place shortly after Obasanjo attended the 90th birthday celebration of Chief Gabriel Igbinedion, the Esama of Benin, in Edo State.
The Minna gathering attracted significant attention, as it also included the presence of retired General Abdulsalami Abubakar, another former Head of State, and General Aliyu Gusau, a former National Security Adviser (NSA). While the exact details of their discussions were not disclosed, many reports suggest that the former leaders convened to deliberate on pressing national issues, including Nigeria’s current economic challenges.
Obasanjo’s media aide, Kehinde Akinyemi, confirmed the visit in a statement on Sunday. According to Akinyemi, beyond addressing national matters, the visit also served a personal purpose—Obasanjo took the opportunity to belatedly celebrate Babangida’s 83rd birthday, which was on August 17. Obasanjo explained that he had been unable to attend the birthday celebrations earlier due to international commitments.
“After the celebration in Benin, the former President proceeded to Minna to visit President Ibrahim Babangida, who celebrated his 83rd birthday. President Obasanjo recognized the contributions of President Babangida to Nigeria and expressed his joy at his continued good health,” Akinyemi stated.
In his remarks, Obasanjo reflected on Babangida’s legacy and offered prayers for his continued health and wellbeing, expressing regret that he could not make the trip sooner. This meeting underscores the enduring influence of Nigeria’s past leaders, particularly at a time when the country is facing critical economic and political challenges, and it has fueled speculation about their potential role in addressing the nation’s current crisis.
