From Chuks Moses, Awka
A group under the aegis of Peter Obi Support Network (POSN) has described media reports making the rounds that Mr Peter Obi was being considered for Vice presidential slot to another aspirant as “arrant nonsense”.
Obi’s ambition, the group noted, remains not negotiable, hence warned the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), against playing games with the unity of Nigeria by contemplating to impose and manipulate a northerner on the members.
According to a statement from Obi’s support group signed by its spokesman, Sani Saeed Altukry, such move will adversely affect the survival, future and electoral fortunes of the party, especially at the 2023 presidential elections in particular, and the entire general election.
It will also rock the already shaky foundations of the country beyond the election cycle, the group asserts.
The group, therefore, asked Mr Obi, who has mass appeal and is loved by Nigerians to consider Sokoto State Governor, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, the former Senate President, Bukola Saraki or the Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed as potential running mates when the time comes.
The group’s statement reads, “Our attention has been drawn to a media report that Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, one of the presidential aspirants on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has opted for the former governor of Anambra state, Peter Obi as running mate again, ahead of the 2023 Presidential race.
“We consider the report – which we understand is planted in a national newspaper as ‘arrant nonsense!'”
“Peter Obi’s presidential ambition is not negotiable because he has repeatedly assured us and other Nigerians that have consulted with him on the matter that he is in the presidential race to win.
“The report that Atiku is considering Obi as a running mate is ‘fake news’ obviously planted to test waters and deceive millions of Nigerians that see Peter Obi’s presidency as the last hope to rescue Nigeria.
“However, we are not surprised because Nigerians are aware that Atiku appreciates Obi’s sterling presidential qualities which was why he chose Obi as running mate in 2019.
“Finally, we hereby demand that the PDP party leadership must speak out immediately on the issue of zoning rather than playing hide-and-seek with the matter. The party leadership will be hearing from us on this important issue very soon because any attempt to foist a northern candidate on the party will have adverse effects on the future of the party and on the already shaky unity of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”