By Olaitan Ibrahim
The First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has explained why she visited Generals Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida and Abdulsalami Abubakar (Rtd) today, at their Minna, Niger State residences.
Accompanied by wife of Vice President, Hajiya Nana Shettima, the First Lady and her entourage were received at the Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Airport by the state Governor, Muhammed Umar Bago, his wife and other top government officials from where they drove to General Babangida’s residence and later Abdulsalami’s house.
At General Babangida’s uphill residence, the visitors met with Babangida for more than one hour behind closed doors. They then proceeded to the residence of the former head of state, Abdulsalami Abubakar and were received by former first lady Justice Fati Lami Abubakar.
The delegation went into another closed-door meeting with the former Nigerian leader and his wife for about 90 minutes before going to the government house for a visit with Governor Muhammed Bago.
She’s Nigeria’s No1 ambassador – Abdulsalami Abubakar
Details of the private talks were not made public, but General Abubakar described Senator Oluremi Tinubu as Nigeria’s No1 ambassador.
“She has done very well during her 1st and 2nd years. She has done a lot of things in order to bring Nigeria to greatness.
“You have been carrying the governor’s wives along in all you have been doing, especially what you are doing for young children,” the former head of state remarked.
They’re fathers of the nation – Tinubu
Senator Tinubu also described both General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida and Abdulsalami Abubakar as ‘fathers of the nation’.
“It is right for me to come here to greet them because they are fathers of the nation.