Labour Party Spokesman Urges Atiku to Back Peter Obi
· Former VP: Such talks are to divide coalition
Chuks Okocha in Abuja
Interim National Publicity Secretary, Labour Party, Prince Tony Akeni, has called on former Vice President Atiku Abubakar to shelve his presidential ambition in favour of Peter Obi, warning that divided opposition votes would guarantee an easy second term for President Bola Tinubu in 2027.
But in a swift reaction, the former Vice President Atiku said that the coalition party is not on who becomes the presidential candidate of the coalition party as such talks are to divide the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
Akeni in an interview with ARISE NEWS yesterday, said the coalition under the banner of ‘Agove 2027’, reached its decision after a three-day stakeholders’ meeting in Abuja.
He explained that the movement was convinced only Obi could unite Nigerians and defeat the All Progress Congress (APC) in the next election.
Reacting to Akeni’s call, the former Vice President said that the talks of stepping down is to advance the motives of the ruling party, APC in advancing a dictatorship being promulgated by President Bola Tinubu.
Atiku spoke through his spokesman, Paul Ibeh, in an interview with THISDAY.
According to Atiku, ”Nigeria is at the throes of dictatorship and the lreaders of the opposition party mandated the coalition party to go on a rescue mission against the APC and President Bola Tinubu. So, the leadership of the ADC should be allowed to do the job Nigerians mandated the coalition party to do,
”When people are talking like Tony Aleni, they are only advancing the position of the APC to divide the opposition class for the purpose of perpetuating the APC and President Bola Tinubu in office. We in the opposition coalition party are stronger together. We are not talking about offices now. We are building structures now., We will not play into the hands of the APC,” he stated.
On his part, factional National Publicity Secretary of the Labour party, who explained why Atiku should step aside stressed that Obi represents the only realistic chance of defeating the APC.
“The same understanding that our country has been blessed by an extraordinary individual in the person of Peter Obi is what drives us today. We also have a similar understanding that our country has been blessed by an extraordinary person, the person of His Excellency Alhaji Atiku Abubakar.
“Two giants strutting the political space of Nigeria, on the side of the progressive aisle. Looking at the two personalities, their backgrounds, where they’re coming from, and where they have told Nigerians they are heading, we say that it is time to come to the intersection of their individual aspirations, and to take a stand. And the steps we have taken are based on research and study.”
Akeni argued that the coalition, known as Agove 2027, was built on the legacy of the “Obidient Movement” that swept the 2023 elections, and that only unity can deliver victory in 2027.
He also extended the appeal to former President Goodluck Jonathan. “We also appeal to President Jonathan that he should consider what the majority of Nigerians have yielded their hearts to pursue. That is a presidency led by a younger person from a younger generation who clicks with the majority of Nigerians, by his records of integrity, character and consistency.
“Since 1999, this country has turned out hundreds of former governors. Now, when they leave office, what do you see? It is a people wallowing in poverty worse than when they first came in. There is no one that holds the kind of majestic and impeachable record of integrity, of purity of purpose, and compassion for the poor. The presidency of Mr. Peter Obi could as well have 10 minutes a day to speak to the people of Nigeria.”
