Babangida writes Nwodo, withdraws from PDP presidential race

FORMER Military President Friday wrote the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Dr. Okwesilieze Nwodo, withdrawing formally from the presidential race on the platform of the party.

The former Presidential aspirant before the emergence of ex-vice President Atiku Abubakar as the northern consensus candidate ahead of the party’s Presidential primaries, said in the letter he wrote to the Chairman that he was solidly behind the consensus arrangement.
In the letter he personally signed which was dated December 31st, 2010, and entitled “Withdrawal of Participation in the 2011 PDP Presidential Primary Election”, Babangida urged the National Working Committee, NWC of the party to approve the request.
The former Military President was joined by his supporters and members of his campaign office Friday when he personally submitted the letter to the national chairman of the PDP, Dr. Okwesilieze Nwodo at the Wadata Plaza, National Secretariat in Abuja.

Babangida in the letter said: “This letter submits for the kind consideration and approval of the National Working Committee of our great party – the Peoples Democratic Party of Nigeria (PDP), a request to withdraw from all the processes leading to and including the PDP Primary elections scheduled for 13th January, 2011.
“You will recall that in September, 2010, I had collected, completed and submitted the Expression of Interest and Nomination Forms in accordance with the provisions of the Electoral Guidelines set out by the party.
“As a consequence of the Consensus arrangement to which I voluntarily and willingly subscribed, I write to inform you of my decision to withdraw forthwith from all the processes leading to the selection and emergence of our Party’s Presidential flag bearer.
“Whilst extending my highest regards to your good selves and the Party, I wish to convey my gratitude to the Party for the opportunity given me to express my interest in the first place”.
Responding after receiving the letter, the PDP National Chairman, Dr. Nwodo who thanked him, however wished General Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida well for his maturity and exhibiting good conduct.
It would be recalled that Babangida since the Mallam Adamu Ciroma-led Consensus Committee of the Northern Elders Political Forum declared Atiku as the preferred aspirant for the north, has been featuring in public function.
He has since the adoption of Atiku Abubakar fused his Campaign Organization into that of Atiku which is now tagged Amalgamated Campaign Organization.
Also recall that he was the Chairman at the recently held Stakeholders Conference which took place at ThisDay Dome in Abuja.
It was at the meeting that both Babangida and Atiku made statements President Goodluck Jonathan considered treasonable and warned that statements of such will no longer be tolerated by the government as any one found wanting will be made to face the full wrath of the law.