By Aideloje Ojo
Minna
Former Military President, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida, returned to his Minna country home at the weekend, after three-week medical sojourn in Germany, thus putting an end to
speculations that he was dead.
Blueprint learnt that the former ruler returned from the medical trip on Friday through the Minna International Airport at about 3:30pm.
The former military leader was rumoured on two occasions to have died, a speculation his aides severally dispelled.
He was received at the airport by his first son, Mohammed alongside former Niger state Governor, Engineer Abdulkadir Kure, former Federal Permanent Secretary, Idris Adamu Kuta and Farouk Abdullahi,a former chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party in the state.
Speaking with journalists at his uphill residence yesterday, Babangida recalled that it was not the first time that the rumour of his death would be out in the public, stressing that he was getting used to it now.
The retired general e wondered why people were constantly peddling the rumour of his death at the slightest news of attending to his health.
He said: “Nobody is above sickness and death. What I had was just a structural medical problem that was being addressed by medical experts. Recovery depends on the medical checks and my adhering to medical advices.”
While expressing appreciation to Nigerians for their concerns and care, Babangida urged them to persevere with the present government in trying to bring about development to the country.
He called on Nigerians to understand what the government was doing and support the policies of the government in order to achieve the desired development.
Meanwhile, the state Governor, Abubakar Sani Bello, has said the country needed the wise counsel and advice of the former military president.
Bello in a statement issued in Minna at the weekend, welcomed the elder statesman back to Minna, praising Allah (SWT) for preserving the life of the former military leader.
He said: “Despite unfounded rumour about the life of our national icon, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida, we are grateful that it pleases Allah (SWT) to preserve his life and bring him back safely and healthier to continue in the good work of nation building.
“General Babangida remains one of the few leaders in this country that we still need around to tap from their wealth of experience and knowledge and we are grateful that he is back and kicking like the old soldier he is.
“Your safe return has finally put a lie to the rumour and the evil machinations of those who are playing God. We are grateful to Allah (SWT) that He has silence them.”