Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi was again a guest at the Minna hilltop residence of former military dictator Ibrahim Babangida on Sunday, this time with his running mate Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed.

It was the second time Mr Obi will be visiting the former military president since he began nationwide consultation towards realising his ambition in 2023.

“Today, my running mate, Dr Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed and I visited President Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida, GCFR, at his home in Minna”, Mr Obi announced in a tweet.

The LP presidential candidate thanked Mr Babangida for his “fatherly counsel” during the visit.

At over 80, Mr Babangida who ruled Nigeria for eight years in the 80s, has loomed large over Nigeria’s political landscape. Presidential aspirants at election cycles often throng his abode to secure endorsement.

The ex-military junta head is however loathed by pro-democracy activists for annulling the June 12, 1993 presidential election, adjudged to be the freest and fairest in the history of the country. Mr Babangida is also accused of entrenching the culture of corruption in the Nigerian public system.

It was then no surprise that Mr Obi’s visit to Minna irked some of his critics who accused him of hobnobbing with past leaders who destroyed the country.

A Twitter user, @realiweez said “Peter I don’t like this man, you have joined the organized criminal gang. You have lost my vote for this.” 

“When we told you that obi is a scam you called us names, how can you change Nigeria when you still hobnobbing(sic) with same people that brought us into this mess especially Babangida someone that annulled the most free election in Nigeria consulting him for what exactly? Another Twitter user @Bayolondo2 said.

@jagunbaba said, “He is only disguising ni, he is very much part of the establishment. PitObi is no where clean or messianic. He is just taking his followers on a journey of no good end. I only pity those ones among that knows nothing but abusing people on social media.”

Two weeks ago, human rights lawyer Femi Falana cautioned Mr Obi against fraternising with those who destroyed Nigeria.

“Let me challenge the leaders of the Labour Party. You aren’t going to get power in Nigeria by adopting the methods of the bourgeoisie. If you want to mobilise the Nigerian people, you must go beyond visiting those who destroyed Nigeria,” Mr Falana said while addressing the Labour Party’s national retreat.