Former Nigerian head of state, Ibrahim Babangida has responded to the claim by Nigerian media entrepreneur and presidential candidate of the African Action Party (AAC), Omoleye Sowore that he is behind Peter Obi’s presidential ambition.Sowore while reacting to a picture of Peter Obi with Babangida as well as another one with former president Obasanjo, accused Peter Obi of being sponsored by corrupt former Nigerian leaders who he said are the cause of Nigeria’s problems.He said, Peter Obi enjoys the support of Babangida, Obasanjo, Ango Abdullahi, Abdulsalam Ababakar, Gusua, etc.However, Babangida, while speaking in Minna last week in an interview he granted to Crest CEO, Shola Oshunkeye and Steve Nwosu, the managing director of New Xpress Newspaper, described Peter Obi as a passionate young Nigerian.“He is a young man, but he is passionate about development, passionate about our Nigerianness,” Babangida disclosed. “From then, we kept contact for a long time. We talk to each other and so on.“So, it is only fair that when he decided to be the president or a candidate, he should come and let me know. That’s the essence of the relationship. It’s like ‘don’t read it in the papers, I am going to run.’ And whatever advice I have, I will give it to him based on my own experience. Hopefully, that will help him to mobilize all of you.When asked whether the report that he, Obasanjo, Abdulsalami, Gusau and Abdullahi are behind Peter Obi’s candidacy, he responded“I am hearing it now for the first time from you,” he told the two media executives. “Somebody sent me what Sowore said. That Obasanjo, Abdulsalami, Aliyu Gusau, Ango Abdullahi and myself are promoting Peter Obi. But I’m glad that the answer you said they gave Sowore was that he was jealous.”