Former military President, General Ibrahim Babangida, has expressed happiness that a young politician like Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal of Sokoto State, with leadership experience cutting across the three arms of government, is offering to serve Nigeria as president come 2019.

General Babangida, who did not hide his excitement when Tambuwal visited him at his hilltop residence in Minna, Niger State on Saturday, recalled that those premier civilian and military leaders that fought for Nigeria’s independence and kept the nation one, we’re all young.

“When we fought and kept this country one, we were all your age, and those of us that are now old will be happy to die leaving the country in the hands of a younger generation,” Babangida told the former Speaker of the House of Representatives, who is aspiring for the presidential ticket of the opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

He praised Governor  Tambuwal for taking “right step” by assembling a campaign team made up of credible and intelligent Nigerians that cut across religion, ethnicity and culture.

“Let me commend and congratulate you for showing interest (in the presidency), and going by the team you have assembled (because) that is the first step in ensuring success in leadership.  You have taken the right step and I will urge you to work hard to succeed.  It is possible to achieve your objective,” he said.

Recalling his tenure as military president from August 1985 to August 1993, Babangida said he deliberately chose the best brains in each sector to assist him in government.

According to IBB (as he is fondly called), “when I brought them, I always tell them, look, me I am not educated, I am a bloody soldier, so I will depend on you to achieve success, and even though I will take the credit when you succeed, your success will make Nigeria better and greater, which is more important.”