The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, says the endorsement of the presidential standard-bearer of the Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi, by former President Olusegun Obasanjo is his personal wish which does not reflect the opinion or position of majority of Nigerians.
Atiku, who deputised Obasanjo between 1999 and 2007, said while the former President is entitled to his personal opinion, the position of his former principal would not stop Nigerians from endorsing his presidential ambition ahead of the 2023 general election.
The former Vice President stated that it was surprising that Obasanjo endorsed Obi, “a candidate that has not had any experience in governance at the national level” amidst the various challenges bewildering the country.
He said this via a statement issued on Sunday by the spokesperson of the Atiku/Okowa Campaign Organisation, Kola Ologbondiyan.
He stated: “In any case, Chief Obasanjo’s opinion cannot sway Nigerians who can easily remember how he endorsed President Muhammadu Buhari, whose administration, he (Obasanjo) now describes as ‘stressful years for many Nigerians,’ during which our nation ‘moved from frying pan to fire and from mountain top to the valley’.
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“It is therefore extremely difficult for Nigerians, particularly the youth demography, to accept Chief Obasanjo’s opinion as the solution to the myriad of challenges facing the nation today because the last candidate he introduced, by his own estimation, failed Nigerians.
“Our campaign holds that none of the presidential candidates has the experience, capacity, tenacity of purpose, presence of mind, and readiness to serve like Atiku Abubakar.
“Atiku 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, but by record of ability and performance, authentic vision, honesty, and character; physical and mental capacity; the very indices set by the former President.
“It is instructive to state that every claim by former President Obasanjo on the success of his administration is a reflection of the performance of Atiku Abubakar as his Vice President and Chairman of the National Economic Council 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 even when it is clear that if a hand like Atiku Abubakar with their shared experience is brought to the forefront of governance, our nation will be rescued from this current sullen state.
“Our Campaign, therefore, urges Nigerians not to be distracted by subjective opinions but to remain focused on the resolve to salvage our dear nation by electing Atiku Abubakar as the next President of Nigeria, come February 25, 2023,” Ologbondiyan said.
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