- Suggests Tambuwal, Saraki, Bala for consideration as Obi’s running mate
- Ask PDP leaders to speak out on zoning
Tunde Joshua, Abuja
A presidential aspirant on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mr Peter Obi is not in the 2023 presidential race as a pretender or to negotiate for the vice-presidential slot, the Peter Obi Support Network (POSN) has declared.
The group also said the presidential ambition of the former governor of Anambra state is not negotiable while describing conspirators of Obi as vice presidential candidate to another presidential aspirant as “arrant nonsense”.
In a statement Thursday in Abuja, issued and signed by its spokesman, Sani Saeed Altukry, POSN reiterated its warning to the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), against playing games with the unity of the country saying “any attempt by the party to foist a northern candidate on the party members will adversely affect the future and fortunes of the party at the 2023 presidential elections and hurt the already shaky foundations of the country.
Peter Obi Support Network (POSN) further asked Mr Peter Obi, who has mass appeal and loved by the generality of Nigerians to consider Sokoto State Governor, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, former Senate President, Bukola Saraki and Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed as a potential running mate when the time for taking the decision comes.
The group warned Nigerians not to grab defeat from the jaws of victory which Mr Obi’s presidential aspiration symbolizes and warned the PDP not to play with the yearnings of Nigerians and the mood of the nation on the rotational presidency.
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POSN in the statement said, “our attention has been drawn to a media report that Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, one of the presidential aspirants in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has opted for the former governor of Anambra State, Peter Obi as running mate 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 the already shaky unity of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
