•APC, PDP, Akinyemi, Bugaje knock ex-President

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo came under fire last night for stucking his neck for Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate Peter Obi in next month’s election.

The two leading political parties – the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) – knocked the former President.

One-time External Affairs Minister Prof. Bolaji Akinyemi and a former member of the House of Representatives, Dr. Usman Bugaje, expressed displeasure at the position of the ex-president, which he made known through an open letter released yesterday.

The letter was the unveiling of his support for the LP standard bearer, which he had surreptitiously done in the last few months.

Obasanjo’s letter was titled: “My appeal to all Nigerians, particularly young Nigerians”.

The former president, who praised himself for offering a responsible leadership, urged the youth to shun prejudices.

However, Bugaje expressed reservations about Obasanjo’s advice, saying he was not impressed by his past record.

He said: “First, President Obasanjo is entitled to his opinion. He can make his choice and he can decide to make his choices public as he has done in this case. I don’t know the objective criteria for his decision.


“Before you take what somebody says, check the person’s record. For me, Obasanjo’s record doesn’t encourage me to take whatever he says.

“I was at the National Assembly when he attempted to extend his tenure by changing the constitution. We had to stand up to him in that respect. So, for me, I can’t find his endorsement trustworthy.”

Bugaje added: “What I think we should be doing now, is to set agenda on issues that should guide the voters. We are almost at the precipice.

“We need a leadership that can pull this country back from the precipice that can actually strengthen the institutions and can give the direction this country should go. We need a leader that can unite this country.”

Also faulting Obasanjo, Prof. Bolaji Akinyemi described him as a leader responsible for Nigeria’s woes.

He said Obasanjo should emulate former military rulers – Gen. Yakubu Gowon and Gen. Abdusalami Abubakar – who are in retirement.

Akinyemi stressed: “Some of us believe that President Obasanjo was one of the foundational problems that this country had. One of the things I said is that once you have occupied the post of the president and you have served your term, leave, and be like Gen. Yakubu Gowon and Gen. Abdusalami Abubakar. Just be quiet. You have had your term and let others get on.

“But for you to create problems for us and then come back and present yourself as a problem solver, I find that difficult to swallow.”

‘A worthless endorsement’

The Presidential Campaign Council of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) dismissed Obi’s endorsement by Obasanjo, describing it as worthless and of no political value.

The APC-PCC, in a preliminary response through its Director, Media and Publicity, Bayo Onanuga, said neither the party nor its candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, will lose sleep over Obasanjo’s move.

“Obasanjo is notorious for always opposing progressive political forces, as he did against MKO Abiola in 1993.”

The council described the former president as a political paperweight, who lacked the political goodwill or leverage anywhere in the country to make anyone win a councillorship election, let alone win a presidential election.

The statement reads: “We read with amusement the endorsement of Mr Peter Obi, the Labour Party presidential candidate by former President Olusegun Obasanjo in his New Year message on Sunday.

“Following calls by journalists from various media houses who asked for our reaction we decided to make this preliminary statement, though we didn’t consider the so-called endorsement to be of any value.

“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 Ohanaeze Ndigbo 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 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.”

Onanuga further recalled “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 an 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.”

Tracing the political antecedent of the former President, the APC-PCC recalled that Obasanjo similarly endorsed Alhaji Atiku Abubakar of the PDP in 2019 against President Muhammadu Buhari. Atiku was walloped by Buhari with a wide margin in the election.

“History will repeat itself in February as our candidate Asíwájú Bola Ahmed Tinubu will equally beat Obi by a large margin.

“We take 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.”

Atiku campaign: Obasanjo’s endorsement personal

The Atiku/Okowa Presidential Campaign Organisation (PCO) described the endorsement as a personal decision.

The campaign organisation, in a statement by its spokesman, Kola Ologbondiyan, said the former President’s choice did not reflect the position of overwhelming majority of Nigerians.

Stressing that Obasanjo was entitled to his opinion, Ologbondiyan said the choice cannot influence the determination of Nigerian voters to

rally with “the more experienced, more proficient and more accepted” candidate of the PDP, Atiku Abubakar “to rescue and rebuild our nation.”

The statement reads: “What is surprising to majority of Nigerians is that in the face of the alarming challenges facing the nation, which requires a tried and tested hand, former President Obasanjo is suggesting a candidate that has not had any experience in governance at the national level.

“It will be 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.

“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.


https://thenationonlineng.net/obasanjo-under-fire-for-endorsing-lp-candidate-obi/

Obj endorsement is a confirmation Obi is going to lose.

Painment everywhere.Endorsement does not translate to electoral approval. However, Corrupt politicians” had failed millions of Nigerians.The cabals and beneficiaries of the corrupt state of Nigeria do not want to see it change. It does not matter whether they’re Igbo, Yoruba or Hausa, when it comes to ensuring power remains with them, they unite against Nigerians! Now that the youths are united they are afraid.

The Power behind @PeterObi is the pains of millions of Nigerians who deserve a better life but were failed by the corrupt politicians! This is no longer about @PeterObi. This is about the millions of frustrated Nigerians/youths who want to take their anger to the ballot box..."
https://punchng.com/why-cabals-want-obi-to-step-down-psquares-peter/

If Obasanjo’s stand is worthless, then why this loud outcry by other political parties he did not endorse?

If Obj is not in the equation when it comes to deciding who rules Nigeria, why do all major candidates pay him a courtesy visit to gain his support?

Who among these presidential candidates is more desperate for power?

A) Atilu Abubakar
B) Peter Obi
3) Asiwaju Tinubu
4) Rabio Kwankwaso

Quote and drop your answer below

Y

If you are convinced on who you'll vote for, let's see below.

Like for Peter Obi

Share for Tinubu or Atiku or Kwankwaso

He's free to endorse anyone. No one should attack OBJ. Instead the attackers should focus on marketing their candidates

rottennaija:
Obj endorsement is a confirmation Obi is going to lose.

Because?

Only the nation newspapers will write such.. Am not sure, but let me check the source..



Confirmed!

It the nation newspapers.

Obasanjo’s endorsement of Peter Obi is causing a lot of heart break and commotion everywhere. Calm down PDP and APC.

Garrieveryday:
Who among these presidential candidates is more desperate for power?

A) Atilu Abubakar
B) Peter Obi
3) Asiwaju Tinubu
4) Rabio Kwankwaso

Quote and drop your answer below

Everyone knows the answer

Coming out to tell us it is your turn like say na your papa house.


And people be foolishly supporting him, Haba

Obj supported Goodluck Jonathan in 2011, and he won.

Obj did not support Goodluck in 2015, and he lost.

Obj partially supported Atiku in 2019, and he narrowly lost.

Now Obj has come out again to support Peter Obi in 2023, will he win or lose?
2023 will tell.

Tallesty1:
Because?

Wiseandtrue:

So why the uproar

Who feels unsettled over nothing

He will lose. He didn't stand a chance. Now, he certainly will. Anyways, election is February, just few weeks away. We will see.

Coming from APC wing newspaper

He’s not under any fire
It’s urchins that are putting themselves under fire

OBJ though an elder stateman that I respect only because he is an elder that's where it ends.

OBJ as a human can not have good intention, I know people working for him at tempo where he produce 'nylon' or maybe I should let you inquire about the life of people working in Ota farm.... Not being in control of Ogun State says a lot about his person...
This is the Obasanjo that introduced contract work to Indians in Nigeria, they are enslaving the youths under the guise of contract work... You will find people in Nigerian Brewery earning 35k for 16 years, do you know how much Nigeria brewery makes? Millions of companies shortchanging workers under the guise of contract job, most of them don't even pay the minimum wage... How can a person like Obasanjo even try to tell a Nigerian youth what to do? I know people in Ota earning #1500 a day in big companies that pay staffs around 150k a month. It's sickening knowing him and hearing him speak... And this is the same reason I will never support Atiku.
Even Obasanjo family member won't listen to him, ask aunty Iyabo

Under which fire? Because he didn't endorse Bulaba?

The nation newspapers and stupid propaganda be like 5&6.

Foolish The Nation's Newpaper. Immediately I read the headline I knew it would come from them.

rottennaija:
Obj endorsement is a confirmation Obi is going to lose.

Shikini:
Foolish The Nation's Newpaper. Immediately I read the headline I knew it would come from them.

No wahala, few days days ago

AyodejiCharles:
Only the nation newspapers will write such.. Am not sure, but let me check the source..

I knew it from the headline. That clownish Thiefnùbu's paper. Useless media outfit. No wonder it was the target of attack during ENDSARS

Any body who wishes Pandora Greengory on Nigerians is wicked and selfish.

Pandora is the most incompetent among the 18 candidates.

Israel and Brazil had their elections this year and they both elected 70+s years old men. WHY? EXPERIENCE!

No Rookie will lead us in 2023

rottennaija:
Obj endorsement is a confirmation Obi is going to lose.

The Nation newspaper

Reporting nonsense since time immemorial

APc has killed the country.. only a mad man associates with the failed party..

Insecurity ravaging the whole country... Christians in kaduna massacred in dozens ..
Economy is dead.. naira is in comatose..
Tinubu should be in old people's home chanting Bulabu balabu and not Aso Rock,

Obasanjo endorsements is worthless because he can't influence 100 votes for obi throughout Nigeria so obi can continue with their nzobu nzobu celebrations of useless endorsements from crook like obasanjo that won't stop Atiku from winning general election

The thing is really pain urchins aka yoru badd fake Muslimns
Those afonjass are very tribalistik,wickedd, heartless and self centered.

Fake news!Under fire kó under sewage mh

ZombieTERROR:


The Nation newspaper

Reporting nonsense since time immemorial

APc has killed the country.. only a mad man associates with the failed party..

Insecurity ravaging the whole country... Christians in kaduna massacred in dozens ..
Economy is dead.. naira is in comatose..
Tinubu should be in old people's home chanting Bulabu balabu and not Aso Rock,

While at it, please show the comparison between 1999 to 2015.

Wiseandtrue:

It is in our best interest that Peter Obi wins except you are a terrorist who wishes to continue the killings and burying of Nigeria!

We know that Buhari will want to manipulate the result to favour APC

We are only praying and hopeful that God's mercy will speak!

So these sort of black and white thinking don't work in real life. This sort either this or that else you are a terrorist. And no, PO isn't the best candidate and it's not in our best interests that he wins.