Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, has picked a former governor of Anambra state, Peter Obi, as his running mate for the 2019 general elections.
It is no longer news that the presidential flag bearer of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, has picked a former governor of Anambra state, Peter Obi, as his running mate for the 2019 general elections. What is news now is the controversy generated by the announcement that Obi has been chosen instead of some experienced politicians who have contributed a lot to the PDP in the Southeast geo-political zone in the past.
Many had expected that stakeholders of the PDP in the Southeast would have jumped at the rare opportunity and Atiku’s large heart to pick a running mate from the Southeast considering the incessant allegation of marginalization of the zone but because some people felt that they should have been consulted, the reverse appears to be the case. Shortly after Obi, who was a chieftain of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA), before his defection to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was announced as the running mate, stakeholders of the PDP in the Southeast convened an urgent meeting at the residence of the Deputy Senate President, Chief Ike Ekweremadu, to protest their exclusion in the nomination of Obi. Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, PDP Governors Forum in the zone, former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Emeka Ihedioha, Chis Ubah, among other prominent stakeholders of the PDP in the Southeast attended the meeting which was earlier scheduled to hold at the South East PDP office in Enugu.
Prior to the meeting, Governor Dave Umahi of Ebonyi State, had through one of his media aides, allegedly congratulated Obi over his emergence as Atiku’s running mate but later retracted the statement after he was allegedly pressurized by some prominent members of the PDP in the zone. The governor apologized to Nigerians and Ndigbo for the statement that earlier congratulated the former governor of Anambra State, Peter Obi, stating that his Chief Press Secretary acted without his knowledge He, however, stated categorically that he has nothing personally against Peter Obi or any other person emerging as the running mate to the presidential candidate of PDP. Umahi insisted that any position zoned to Ndigbo must be discussed and an agreement must be reached so that the right thing will be done in line with the peculiar nature of Igbo politics and their quest for politics of inclusiveness. He stated that he was shocked over the choice of the former governor of Anambra State, Mr Peter Obi as the running mate to the presidential candidate of PDP, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, without consulting with the leaders of the zone. The Ebonyi State governor therefore withdrew his earlier statement quoting him as congratulating Peter Obi, adding that the position of the entire South East zone had always been that any position zoned to the South East must be deliberated upon by the leaders of the zone. Although Umahi tried not to betray his emotions, after the stakeholders meeting, the disdain with which he spoke showed that the stakeholders were not too pleased with the emergence of Obi as Atiku’s vice presidential flag bearer. Umahi hinted that they were shocked at the news of a vice presidential slot given to Ndigbo whereas no formal notice to that effect was given but disclosed that Atiku sent them a message that he would come and see them.“We saw news flying up and down saying that our presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, has picked a running mate from the zone. We were shocked because we were not consulted “While we were meeting, Atiku sent message that he travelled out of the country for a short period. He promised to come down and meet with South East leaders,” he stated.
Addressing party faithful who could not attend the meeting at the residence of Ekweremadu, at the PDP South east Zonal Office, the Vice Chairman of the party in the South east, Austin Umahi disclosed that they were not aware of the emergence of former Anambra State Governor, Peter Obi as running mate to the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar for the 2019 presidential election. Umahi, a brother to the Ebonyi State Governor, said after their meeting, they concluded that they were not aware of the appointment. Adding that they only heard about Obi’s emergence on the social media. He, however, disclosed that they were not rejecting anybody but restated that they were not aware that Obi had been made the running mate to Atiku. Umahi further corroborated that Atiku had promised to discuss with them over the issue and commended the PDP for a successful National Convention held at Port Harcourt. There was, however, drama at the headquarters of South east PDP in Enugu when some people protested over the inability of the South-East PDP leaders to take a decision on the emergence of Obi and accused some leaders of the party in the South-East of bias. Apparently afraid that opposition against Obi’s emergence may spell doom for the party especially in the Southeast if not contained, former President Goodluck Jonathan waded into the matter and appealed to the South East leaders to sheath their sword and accept Atiku’s choice of running mate, Peter Obi. In a statement addressed to party members, which he personally signed, Jonathan kicked against insisting on obtaining a zonal endorsement for a vice presidential nomination.“The task before us is to build on this firm foundation and momentum by pulling in one direction and working assiduously for the victory of these candidates at the polls. It is against this backdrop that I appeal for calm and understanding in the South East where my attention has been drawn to the fact that some leaders of our party are openly expressing their discomfort with the reported nomination of former Governor of Anambra State, Peter Obi, as Atiku’s running mate. I am told that some of our leaders in the zone have raised issues with the process of consultation that produced the Vice Presidential candidate.
“I affirm that consultation is a key ingredient in every political process. Nonetheless, in the selection of a vice presidential candidate, a presidential candidate is allowed reasonable freedom to select his running mate based on loyalty, trust, experience, temperament and capacity to perform the responsibilities of the office. Anything other than this could create tension and acrimony between the presidential candidate and his running mate, even before the inauguration of the government. “My plea is for Alhaji Atiku Abubakar to be given a free hand to choose who he wants to work with as his Vice President without putting him through undue pressure. In this regard, only minimal consultation is required which doesn’t necessarily have to involve full regional review and approval. “We have to be careful not to give the impression that the process of selecting a Vice Presidential candidate cannot progress until a regional stamp of approval is formally procured. The system we are used to right from the First Republic is one that places the choice of a running mate at the behest of the candidate, based on his own convictions on capacity and compatibility,” the statement issued by Ikechukwu Eze, who is Jonathan’s spokesman, read. Lending support to Obi, a former governorship aspirant of the PDP in Anambra State, Mr Osoleka Obaze, said: “His Excellency, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has made the right choice in picking Peter Obi as his running mate. Atiku has just exhibited the ability to make hard- headed decision required of purposeful leaders.” Also commenting on the emergence of Obi, the, Ohaneze Youth Council said: “We are calling on Igbo youths to ensure that the duo of Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi make it to Aso Rock in 2019 as President and Vice President. We will reach out to Arewa youths, Ijaw, Middle Belt, Ibibio, Yoruba youths under the Nigeria Ethnic Nationalities Youth Organisation for the success of Atiku and Peter Obi.’’ As Obi’s emergence continues to generate controversies, close followers of political happenings in Nigeria believe that if the aggrieved stakeholders in the South east are not pacified, the PDP may perform woefully in the zone come 2019.
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