The Presidential candidate of the All Progressive Congress Bola Tinubu has said Sunday’s endorsement of the presidential candidate of the Labour Party by former President Olusegun Obasanjo is a worthless venture.
NPO Reported earlier that the former President had written Nigerians asking them to support Obi for the 2023 presidential poll.
Tinubu, in his swift response said Obasanjo’s backing won’t make any difference.
“None of the contestants is a saint but when one compares their character, antecedent, their understanding, knowledge, discipline, and vitality that they can bring to bear and the great efforts required to stay focused on the job, particularly looking at where the country is today and with the experience on the job that I personally had, Peter Obi as a mentee has an edge.
“Others like all of us have what they can collectively contribute to the new dispensation to liberation, restoration and salvaging of Nigeria.
“One other important point to make about Peter is that he is a needle with thread attached to it from North and South and he may not get lost.
“In other words, he has people who can pull his ears, if and when necessary. He has a young and able running mate with a clean track record of achievement both in public and private life,” the former president had written
Tinubu, in his swift response said Obasanjo’s backing won’t make any difference.
Tibubu said that the purpoted endorsement by Chief Obasanjo did not come as surprise adding that any discerning political watcher in the country knew where the former president belongs even before he made it officially known in his new year message
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He added that Obasanjo had earlier made his stand known at various public events especially at the 70th birthday anniversary of former President of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief John Nwodo in Enugu.
“We make bold to say that our party and candidate, Asíwájú 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,” Tinubu’s campaign said in the statement
According to the former governor of Lagos State in the 2003 and 2007 general elections when Obasanjo was a sitting President,he 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.
Tinubu said in 2007, he(Obasanjo) 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.”
Tibubu further stressed that when Obasanjo pitched his tent with Atiku Abubakar against the incumbent President, Muhammad Buhari in 2019,he(Obasanjo) failed as Atiku was defeated with a wide margin
“History will repeat itself in February as our candidate Asíwájú Bola Ahmed Tinubu will equally beat Obi by a large margin.
“We take a particular notice of the part of the endorsement statement where Chief Obasanjo said none of the presidential candidates is a Saint.
“We want to state here that Chief Obasanjo is not a good judge of character. He is a man who considers only himself as the all-knowing Saint in Nigeria.
“Over the years, Chief Obasanjo has also convinced himself that integrity, honesty and all good virtues begin and end with him,”he added