Fireworks in the Nigerian polity have heightened in the past few days following the endorsement of Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, LP, by former president Olusegun Obasanjo and the former Federal Commissioner for Information and South-South Leader, Chief Edwin Clark.
It was reported that Obasanjo had in a New Year message to Nigerians endorsed Obi ahead of other presidential candidates for the 2023 election, citing a track record of ability and performance.
The former President also said age and physical and mental disposition favour Obi more than other frontline candidates.
“We need selfless, courageous, honest, patriotic, in short, outstanding leadership with character and fear of God beyond what we have had in the recent past.
“None of the contestants is a saint, but when one compares their character, antecedent, 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,” Obasanjo said.
The former Head of State did not spare the current All Progressive Congress-led federal government. He took a swipe against President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration, saying that the last seven and a half years have been eventful and stressful for many Nigerians and that the country had moved from frying pan to fire and from mountain top to the valley. He added that for most Nigerians, the country was hell on earth.
Taking after Obasanjo, Chief Clark also endorsed Obi as his choice candidate for next year’s election.
According to Clark, the next President of the country must be educated and experienced, adding that the South-East part of the country should be allowed to produce the next President.
“The vision statement shared by His Excellency Peter Obi, 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,” he said.
However, the endorsements have stirred mixed reactions from Nigerians, including the candidates of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Atiku Abubakar.
APC through the Director of Media and Publicity of its Presidential Campaign Council, Bayo Onanuga, described Obasanjo’s endorsement of Obi as worthless.
The ruling party also accused Obasanjo of using all the coercive instruments of state available at his disposal, while he was a sitting President, to railroad people into elective offices against the will of Nigerians
