Tinubu, Atiku presidential bid in dilemma as Obasanjo, Clark endorse Obi

The presidential bid of Bola Tinubu, the candidate of the All Progressives Congress and his PDP counterpart, Atiku Abubakar, appears to be in serious dilemma as Chief Olusegun Obasanjo and Edwin Clark, a former federal commissioner for information and South-South leader, endorses Mr Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party as their candidate for February election.

Obasanjo who had endorsed Peter Obi on Sunday, in a six-paged letter titled “My appeal to all Nigerians particularly Young Nigerians,” admitted that “none of the contestants is a saint.”

He also noted in the letter that Obi has an edge over Tinubu, Atiku and others, when compared in terms of knowledge, discipline and what they can offer.

Part of the letter reads, “We have had campaigners going up and down the country feeding us with what they mean and what they do not mean, what they understand and what they do not fully understand, what is possible and what is not possible, what is realistic and what is unrealistic, what is true and what is untrue

“Without prejudice but with greatest respect to each individual with utmost regard for the best for Nigeria and all Nigerians and from my personal experience, all the major contestants claim to be my mentees. I will not deny such positions since I have worked with all of them directly and indirectly in government. I have come to realise a number of factors in character, attributes and attitude that are necessary in the job of directing the affairs of Nigeria successfully and at a time like this. These characteristics or attributes are many but let us be mindful of some key ones together.

“From interaction and experience, and as mentees as most of them claim, I will, without prejudice, fear or ill-will, make bold to say that there are four major factors to watch out for in a leader you will consider to hoist on yourself and on the rest of Nigerians in the coming election and they are what I call TVCP: Track record of ability and performance; Vision that is authentic, honest and realistic; Character and attributes of a lady and a gentleman who are children of God and obedient to God; and Physical and mental capability with soundness of mind as it is a very taxing and tasking assignment at the best of times and more so it is at the most difficult time that we are,” Obasanjo said.

Obasanjo also took a swipe at Tinubu, saying ‘Emi Lokan’ (My turn) and ‘I have paid my dues’ are one and the same thing and are wrong attitude and mentality for the leadership of Nigeria now.

Chief Edwin Clark endorsement

Chief Clark on Tuesday, while addressing newsmen at his Abuja home during the endorsement of Peter Obi, said that with the former governor of Anambra State as president, Nigeria will be on the path of progress.

The octogenarian explained that the next president of the country must be educated and experienced.

He further made a case for Igbo presidency when he said that South-East should be given the opportunity to produce the next president because the zone has resourceful and educated people to govern the country.

He said, ”I have since been fully briefed on the successful outcome of the interaction held at that occasion. Amongst other things, I have taken note of the following observations which came out of the meeting: That PANDEF presented the expectations and demands of the peoples of the Niger Delta, comprising infrastructural development, devolution of power, resource control, effective and inclusive participation in the oil and gas sector, amongst other things, to the presidential candidate.

“That the vision statement shared by His Excellency Peter Obi at the occasion, as it relates to making Nigeria more productive, using the rich resource endowment in every part of the country; curbing waste and fighting corruption; and creating jobs for our teeming youths through innovative initiatives is very commendable.

“That his restated commitment to restructuring and devolution of power, will promote harmony, peaceful coexistence amongst the states and constituent parts of the country.

“That his vision for more equity and justice as it pertains to the South-South region, which in the past sixty years has produced much of the revenue for the national economy, but has been neglected with little impact in terms of infrastructure and social development, is convincing and commendable.

“Peter Obi’s commitment to environmental justice to the clean up of the Niger Delta polluted communities is most welcomed, given that even the ongoing Ogoni clean-up has been rather slow.

“His commitment to inclusion of qualified persons from the Niger Delta in the national governance process in the future government if elected into power is very reassuring

“The decision of the leaders of Southern Nigeria and Middle Belt Forum, which I also lead, that the Northern part of the country as represented by President Muhammadu Buhari, which would have completed full eight years as President by May 29, 2023, should yield power to candidates from the South for purpose of unity, equity and fair play.

“That the South-East geo-political zone, which has not produced any elected President of this country since after the First Republic, and particularly during this Fourth Republic should be given the opportunity to produce the next President of Nigeria given that the zone has the capacity to present highly competent and qualified persons, for the office, Clark added.

APC and PDP fume over Obi’s endorsement

Though, the endorsement of Peter Obi by Obasanjo and Clark has not gone without a fight from APC and PDP.

The spokesperson for the All Progressives Congress presidential campaign council, Festus Keyamo, SAN, has said that the recent endorsement of the Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, by the former president Olusegun Obasanjo and Edwin Clark has only cleared the path for his party’s victory in the forthcoming elections.

He said that the various endorsement only spells doom for the Peoples Democratic party as the various component that gave the party second position votes in the 2019 elections are pulling out.

He said, “I think we can say confidently today that the PDP campaign has collapsed. The PDP as a party has also collapsed. The various components of the party in 2019 are the ones pulling out of that coalition. Nothing has affected APC.

“If you look at 2019, every single component of that coalition they formed both inside and outside the party against the APC has virtually collapsed. The PANDEF endorsed Atiku 2019, Edwin Clark is a member of the PANDEF, Ohaneze, Afenifere and Middle belt forum also endorsed Atiku in 2019.

“What is going on now is that the PDP has been turned to shreds, internally by the G5 and we hear that there is a G1 governor and also the sympathizers of the party in 2019, the party has imploded from within.”

“The various factors we have now that have upset the political terrain are Peter obi and Kwankwaso, they were the components of the PDP in 2019. Those are the two factors that have upset the political terrain.

“We can confidently say the wheels of PDP have fallen off internally. I don’t take the view of what some of my colleagues are doing by condemning Obasanjo. I am excited by the endorsement of Obasanjo against Atiku and Peter Obi.

“The endorsement of Obasanjo is not against APC but against Atiku because he supported him in 2019. If you heard what Nyesom Wike said it is a tragedy that your former boss who should give you a pass mark has decided to endorse somebody else. In other words, Obasanjo endorsing Atiku in 2019 was because of Peter Obi.

“Right now, Obasanjo has followed Peter obi out of PDP to the labour party, same for Edwin. What is this effect on APC is that it made the path to our victory clearer? It is now obvious to us that we are coasting to victory,” he concluded.

Meanwhile, Bola Tinubu, who had initially sought for the blessing of Obasanjo also dismissed the endorsement of Peter Obi by the former president.

In a statement which Bayo Onanuga, director, media and publicity of the APC presidential campaign council, issued on behalf of former Lagos State described the endorsement as worthless.

He described Obasanjo as a political paperweight, who cannot win his polling unit for Obi in the election.

“We respect the democratic right of former President Obasanjo to support and endorse any candidate of his choice in any election.

“Except that he made it known formally in his new year message, any discerning political watcher in Nigeria knows that Chief Obasanjo’s preference for Peter Obi is expected. He had earlier stated his position at various public events, the last being at the 70th birthday anniversary of Chief John Nwodo, former President of Ohaneze Ndigbo in Enugu.

“We make bold to say that our party and candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu will not lose sleep over Obasanjo’s move, as Obasanjo is notorious for always opposing progressive political forces, as he did against MKO Abiola in 1993.

“The endorsement is actually worthless because the former President does not possess any political goodwill or leverage anywhere in Nigeria to make anyone win a Councillorship election let alone win a Presidential election. He is a political paperweight.

“He is also not a democrat anyone should be proud to be associated with. We recall that in 2003 and 2007 general elections when he was a sitting President, Obasanjo used all the coercive instruments of State at his disposal to railroad people into elective offices against the will of Nigerians as expressed at the polls. In 2007, he declared the polls a do or die affair after he failed in his bid to amend our constitution to have a third term.

“From our records, President Obasanjo has not successfully made anyone win election in Nigeria since then.

“Not even in Ogun State can anyone rely on his support or endorsement to become a governor or Councillor.

“We pity Peter Gregory Obi as we are confident that Chief Obasanjo can not win his polling unit and ward in Abeokuta for Obi in the coming Presidential election on 25 February, 2023.

“Chief Obasanjo’s endorsement is not a political currency Mr. Peter Obi can spend anywhere in Nigeria because he is not a political force, even in his part of the country.

“Chief Obasanjo similarly endorsed Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, Peoples Democratic Party candidate in 2019 against President Muhammadu Buhari. Atiku was walloped by Buhari with a wide margin in the election,” Onanuga said.

Peoples Democratic Party reaction

PDP also described the endorsement of Peter Obi as ‘Obasanjo’s personal wish’.

The spokesperson of Atiku-okowa campaign council, Mr Kola Ologbondiyan, said in a statement that Obasanjo’s wish did not reflect the opinion or position of overwhelming majority of Nigerians across the country.

He however said while the former president was entitled to his personal opinion; as remarkable as it may appear, it remained individualistic.

He added that the wish could not redirect Nigerians from their determination to rally with the more experienced, more proficient and more accepted Presidential Candidate of PDP, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, to rescue and rebuild the nation.

Ologbondiyan said surprisingly in the face of the alarming challenges facing Nigeria, which required a tried and tested hand, Obasanjo was not suggesting a candidate with experience in governance at the national level.

Ologbondiyan said that in any case, Obasanjo’s opinion could not sway Nigerians remembering he made similar endorsement in last election.

He added that it would be extremely difficult for Nigerians, particularly the youth demography, to accept Obasanjo’s opinion as the solution to the myriad of challenges facing the nation today knowing the reality of the country today.

“Our campaign holds that none of the Presidential candidates has the experience, capacity, tenacity of purpose, presence of mind and readiness to serve like Abubakar.

“Abubakar remains the most widely accepted candidate, whose choice is not predicated by sectional, tribal, ethnic or religious sentiments or the endorsement of any individual, high or low.

“This is predicated by record of ability and performance, authentic vision, honesty and character; physical and mental capacity; the very indices set by the former President,” he explained.

Ologbondiyan said it was instructive to state that every claim by Obasanjo on the success of his administration is a reflection of the performance of Abubakar as his Vice President and Chairman of the National Economic Council.

This, he described as the period during which our nation achieved unprecedented economic growth to become one of the fastest growing economies in the world.

“It therefore amounts to a disservice for the former president to make subjective suggestion.

“This is even when it is clear that if a hand like Abubakar with their shared experience is brought to the forefront of governance, our nation will be rescued from this current sullen state,” asserted the spokesman.

Ologbobdiyan said the PDP campaign team therefore urge Nigerians not to be distracted by subjective opinions.

He also advised the electorate to remain focused on the resolve to salvage the nation by electing Abubakar as the next president of Nigeria on Feb. 25.

However, the recent endorsement of Peter Obi by Chief Olusegun Obasanjo and Edwin Clark could put the presidential bid of Bola Tinubu and Atiku Abubakar in serious trouble as these elderly statesmen are politically wired and wields serious influence in their various regions and beyond.

Atiku was Obasanjo’s vice president for eight years, while Tinubu was Lagos state governor when he (Obasanjo) was in power.

Bola Tinubu who has always touted himself to be the favourite to win presidential race in February, could be on the verge of political retirement.

The presidential hopeful whose age, educational background and health status are shrouded in secrecy, coupled with his indictment in the United States of America for drug related offences, seems to be on the black book of these respected elderly statesmen. This is not really good for him.

While Atiku Abubakar who has been dubbed a ‘serial contestant’ is also losing much ground in the presidential race as his former boss — Obasanjo literally snubbed him to endorse Obi. He is also battling with governor Wike led G-5 brouhaha, which has caused an unimaginable crack in PDP.

With the floodgate of endorsement thrown open by former president Olusegun Obasanjo and Chief Edwin Clark, the presidential bid of Bola Tinubu and Atiku Abubakar could be said to be coming to a close.

Written by Kalu Nwokoro Idika from Port-Harcourt.

Idika is a writer and investigative journalist with News Band Newspaper.

kalunwokoroidika@yahoo.com