Peter Obi: Buhari Media Organisation Blasts Obasanjo Says His Opinion Faulty, Self-Serving

2023 Elections: Real Reason Obasanjo Endorsed Peter Obi Revealed

by Victor Ndubuisi
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More information about former president Olusegun Obasanjo’s support for Peter Obi to win Nigeria’s 2023 presidential election has come to light.

After denied writing a letter to British authorities advising against meddling in the 2018 elections, Obasanjo made headlines this week.

He apparently informed the UK that they were a contributing factor to Nigeria’s issues and emphasized that this year’s race would not be conducted as usual.

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The former head of state claimed on Friday that he could have sought a third term in 2003 if he had wanted to, despite rumors to the contrary in some circles.

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Obasanjo urged the youths to drive out the old guards who have dominated the polity for decades in an incendiary New Year’s message two weeks ago.

“Get up, get together, get going and get us to where we should be. And you, the youth, it is your time and your turn. ‘Eyin Lokan’ (Your turn)”, he said in veiled response to Bola Tinubu’s slogan Emi Lokan (It’s my turn).

The All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate said it is his turn to lead Nigeria after President Muhammadu Buhari in Ogun, Obasanjo’s home State, last year.

The APC, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) all rejected Obasanjo’s announcement of support for Obi of the Labour Party (LP) in separate responses.

An adviser to the former President further discussed the reasons why his principal is working for Obi in a conversation with Newsmen during the run-up to the elections.

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Obasanjo has long argued for a government that will tackle insecurity decisively while simultaneously fixing the economy, eliminating corruption from the system, and putting a stop to unequal hiring practices, among other things.

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The former leader specifically does not want power to remain in the North, even if Nigeria is led by a reliable person. He wants the next President to come from the South-East.

As Buhari was approaching the end of his first term, the source reiterated Obasanjo’s conviction in North-South power rotation, implying that the support for the PDP’s Atiku Abubakar in 2019 would not have continued into two terms.

According to the source, Obasanjo is concerned that secessionist sentiment may resurface on a large scale if the South doesn’t win the presidency on May 29.

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“Baba supported the President in 2015 because the country needed strong leadership. When he saw that his choice did not live up to expectations, he withdrew support before 2019 when he openly backed Atiku.

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“He was the most formidable at that time and the North still had eight years to complete. Buhari won that election and will complete his tenure soon. How will Baba support another Northerner again after 2015 and 2019.

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“Look, if Obasanjo’s generation leaves in about 10 years from now, Nigerians will understand better. It will be difficult to take it (power from the North). They have the majority in terms of number of votes and they know the game.

“It is because people like Obasanjo are alive that the struggle for Southern presidency is this competitive. When they go, who are the influential people that will speak for the South?

“Obasanjo is insisting on a Southerner because a Northerner as President beyond 2023 means a possible 16 years in power.”

On the decision to support Obi ahead of fellow Southwesterner Tinubu, and the talks trailing his backing, the source replied: “It’s his choice”.

“Why are they angry? Let everyone allow the people to decide. The funny thing is most of those who attack him and their associates go to see him before and after elections.

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2023 Presidency: Why Obasanjo Endorsed Peter Obi – Onoh

“Obasanjo opted for Obi because he knows both of them; their capacity, antecedents, and other factors. Obi is not perfect but a better option. Also, his region has not done it (presidency) before, a situation Baba believes is unfair.

“People like him are speaking up because they know the consequence of one region doing more than two terms at a stretch. There will be increased secession agitation.

“Obasanjo and others know what happened during the civil war and will not allow their sacrifice to go like that. That Baba supports Peter Obi is not about politics and hatred for anybody, it’s about fairness, justice and equity.”

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On February 25, Obi (from Anambra in the South-East), Atiku (from Adamawa in the North-East), Tinubu (from Lagos in the South-West), and Rabiu Kwankwaso (from Kano in the North-West) of the NNPP will face off.

After the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) confirmed that more than 93 million people were eligible to vote, the election is predicted to have the highest turnout ever.

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In the meantime, a non-governmental organization has urged the INEC to permit a system integrity test after over 3 million persons had their registrations for the Continuous Voter Registration process cancelled (CVR).

The Automatic Biometric Identification System (ABIS) and Biometric Voter Accountability System (BVAS) — utilized for the governorship elections in Anambra, Ekiti, and Osun — are unreliable, according to the Diasporans for Good Governance (DGG).

“That same software invalidated 2.78 million Nigerians, failed to track and eliminate the multiple incidents of underage voters as you can see from the register that is displayed”, said DDG member, Christian Chima.

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INEC Chairman Prof. Yakubu Mahmood will speak on Tuesday on the difficulties and plans for holding the elections in 2023, security, and the use of ABIS and BVAS at the Chatham House in London.

 

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