By Aideloje Ojo
Minna
Former Military President, Gen. Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (rtd), yesterday met with the Governor of Borno state, Alhaji Kashim Shettima, and the Shehu of Borno, Alhaji Abubakar Ibn Umar Garbai El-Kanemi.
The meeting, which held behind closed doors, also had in attendance some state and federal lawmakers, including Senator Ali Ndume and some elders from the state.
Travelling in two white buses with tinted glasses that were escorted by four unmarked security jeeps and protocol officials of the Niger state Government House, the governor and the royal father arrived Minna at about 12.30 p.m. and went into the session with IBB, which lasted for about two hours.
The delegation was, thereafter, ushered to the presidential lodge near the Government House about 2:30 p.m.
Although reporters were barred from the meeting, it was learnt that the visit was not the usual greetings over the recent health challenges of the former military president but had political undertones and the security situation in the North-east.
Security men at the gate of the hilltop residence of the former ruler simply told reporters, who had spent hours waiting around the gate, “This is a private visit; you are not invited here.”
However, it was learnt that the meeting considered issues of the challenges facing Borno state at present.
A source hinted that the visit may be part of the effort to lobby well-meaning Nigerians by the elders from Borno state against the extension of the emergency rule and moves to stop the 2015 elections from taking place in the state.
It was further gathered that the delegation was worried that the federal government’s body language might be going towards the possibility of not giving support for elections to take place in the area in 2015.
“The fear is that elections may not take place, then full-fledge emergency rule may be declared if election will not take place, so the leaders and elders have started strengthening strategies to at least mitigate the security challenges before the election time,” the source said.