Former Military President, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida has described the incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan as a lover of the country and called on Nigerians to support him as he seeks re-election.

Babangida said this Saturday, when Jonathan in company of his aides visited him at his Hilltop mansion in Minna, the Niger State capital. The visit has sent jitters into the camp of another former military ruler and flagbearer of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Muhammadu Buhari who is a sworn enemy of Babangida. Political watchers see the new liaison between Jonathan and Babangida as a political masterstroke that would nullify the influence of Buhari in the North and other parts of the country.

The self-styled former Military President insisted that Jonathan loved and meant well for the country adding that anyone who loves Nigeria should support his ambition to be re-elected the President of Nigeria.

When asked about his mission in the North central State, President Jonathan told newsmen that he visited “his father” – Gen. Babangida, to greet him as he recently returned from abroad on a medical vacation.

The President was accompanied by the National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd.); his Chief of Staff, Gen. Jones Arogbofa (retd.); the Director-General of Jonathan campaign Organization, Senator Ahmadu Ali and FCT Minister, Senator Bala Muhammed. The President and his team had a closed-door parley with their host, Gen Babangida.

The visit to Minna is seen as a deft move by the President to shore up his base in the North and it has already started manifesting as an APC chieftain told our correspondent Saturday night that his party was not worried by the evolving relationship between Jonathan and Babangida. “We are not bothered at all by the IBB factor. We are ready for Jonathan in 2015 and we believe Buhari will win”, he said in a manner that suggests a drop in confidence among the Buhari supporters.