Former Military President, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (rtd) has announced that he is in search of a new wife, 10 years after the passing of his late wife and former First Lady, Maryam.
News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that Maryam died on Sunday, December 27, 2009, after succumbing to ovarian cancer at the University of California’s Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, Los Angeles, at the age of 61.
In this exclusive interview with SUN News, General Babangida, who was at his wife’s bed side when she went to meet her maker, said despite his advancing age, and regardless of his present state of health, he wants to marry again.
He, however, said he will not take a wife much younger than him because that will be a problem for the woman and for himself.
IBB said, “Yes, I am quite sure. I’m searching and I’m hoping. But the longer I wait, maybe, the more problematic it becomes.
“If it drags, I would be too old and the whole idea of having a partner would seem to diminish. But I will make sure [I have a partner] before reaching that stage.
“If somebody is in the corner, you could organize that in three or six months.
“And because it must be somebody you have known for a long time, or somebody you have been in contact with for a long time, you don’t just tell them look this is for marriage.
“But as time passes, and relationship building continues, it could end up in marriage.
“However, I have to be fair in my search. I really want to be fair. For instance, you don’t expect me to take a wife much younger than I am because that will be a problem for her and for me.
“I have to be fair. Secondly, I do wonder if she (the chosen one) would be able to live the way Maryam and I did, which is not easy these days. So, I keep on praying; and I think it will happen.”
