The All Progressives Congress (APC), has described the endorsement of his counterpart in the Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi by former President Olusegun Obasanjo as ” worthless “
Obasanjo, in a new year message to Nigerian youths, had condemned the candidacy of Tinubu and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) flagbearer Atiku Abubakar.
Obasanjo opined that ‘Emi Lokan’ (My turn) and ‘I have paid my dues” are one and the same thing and are wrong attitude and mentality for the leadership of Nigeria now as the solutions to the nation’s problems should be in “we /us” and not in ‘me’ and ‘I”
Reacting to Obi’s endorsement via a statement issued by the Director, Media and Publicity of the APC Presidential Campaign Council, Bayo Onanuga, the APC flag bearer insisted that Obasanjo’s support is worthless adding that his political goodwill has no influence in any part of the country.
Onanuga opined that Obasanjo has a history of failed endorsement and Obi’s situation would not be an exception.
He insisted that after the 2003 and 2007 elections, Obasanjo has failed to successfully influence the success of a candidate even in his home state Ogun.
The statement reads in part , “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.”
Speaking further, Onanuga stated that the endorsement does not come as a surprise as Obasanjo had continuously dropped subtle hints that he favors Peter Obi.
He argued that Tinubu campaign organisation will not loose sleep over Obasanjo’s decision considering that he also refused to support the candidacy of late MKO Abiola his kinsman from Ogun State.
It will be recalled that Bola Ahmed Tinubu had sought the validation and endorsement of Obasanjo immediately after his emergence as the presidential candidate of the APC.