Former military dictator, Ibrahim Babangida, has warned Nigerians against voting for a president that is as old as himself during next year’s presidential election.

Mr Babangida, whose regime is considered one of the most corrupt to have ruled the country, and the cause of the June 12 election crisis, stated this during an interview with Daily Trust on Saturday.

When asked about the candidate he considers as the ideal president in 2023, Mr Babangida said “as long as he is a Nigerian; he is a politician, he is not old like I am; he is very conversant with the country, he communicates, he is a very good communicator.”

He said the next president must be able to hold a conversation with Nigerians on broad issues concerning the nation. 

He added that the next president must be well known across the country, adding that he or she must “have somebody he knows in every part of the country.”

The former dictator added that “He must have somebody he knows in every part of the country. It is not a tall order.

“You could limit it to states, you could limit it to local governments even to the wards if you can but somebody such that once you hear the name, it is somebody you will say, yes, I have heard that name before either in the country or in his profession; if he is a doctor, a journalist or whatever, all areas, we have heard the name before; okay then I will make an effort to know more about him,” Mr Babangida said.

When asked whether any of the current political office holders could take up the role of becoming the next president, Mr Babangida said there are people who fit into the category but he believes that “the process will take care of that.”

Mr Babangida who is highly connected to top politicians in Nigeria, recently endorsed Osinbanjo as the “best person to lead Nigeria in 2023.”