The Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has been endorsed by Former President Olusegun Obasanjo on Sunday. According to him, the Labour Party Standed bearer had an edge over other presidential candidates in terms of character, discipline, vitality and knowledge.
In the 2023 New Year message signed by the former President and made available to newsmen by his aide, Kehinde Akinyemi, Obasanjo implored fellow Nigerians to vote for Peter Obi in the February 25 presidential polls.
His endorsement has however attracted furious reactions from other political parties as they described his support for Obi as worthless.
The ex President, Obasanjo also described the last seven years of the Buhari regime as terrible and hell on earth for the citizens.
The message reads, “The last seven and a half years have no doubt been eventful and stressful years for many Nigerians. We have moved from frying pan to fire and from the mountain top to the valley. Our leaders have done their best, but their best had turned out to be not the best for Nigeria and Nigerians at home and abroad. For most Nigerians, it was hell on earth.
“Those of us who are alive should thank God for His mercies, brace ourselves for the remaining few months of this administration and pray and work very hard for an immediate better future – a future of liberation, restoration and great hope and expectation.’’
Obasanjo expressed how distressed he has become over the terrible state of the nation, adding that the presidential candidates have failed to realise that Nigeria had been dragged down well below the level it was when he assumed office in 1999.
He admitted that Nigeria was in very bad shape and was on the verge of total destruction when he took office, but the nation, he added, was not faced with the current level of frightening insecurity, aimless leadership, mismanagement of resources, corruption and many other menace which he said had resulted in the level of poverty and unemployment.
“We have had campaigners going up and down the country feeding us with what they mean and what they do not mean, what they understand and what they do not fully understand, what is possible and what is not possible, what is realistic and what is unrealistic, what is true and what is untrue. I believe that we need not be confused or be gullible. Let us be cautious, not to be fooled again,’’ The ex President advised the electorate.
Recall that the presidential candidates of the APC, Bola Tinubu; PDP, Atiku Abubakar; LP, Obi and the New Nigeria Peoples Party, Rabiu Kwankwaso are the frontrunners in the race to assume position of the current President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.) in the poll.
In endorsing the ex-Anambra State governor, Obasanjo stated that a suitable presidential candidate must have “a track record of ability and performance; a vision that is authentic, honest and realistic; character and attributes of a lady and a gentleman who are children of God and obedient to God.”
Obasanjo expressed support for Peter Obi and called on Nigerian youths to vote for him. Indicating that he possessed the right attributes that are needed to successfully direct the affairs of the country.
‘’The power to change is in your hands. Your future, my future, and the future of grandchildren and great-grandchildren are in your hands. Politics and elections are a numbers game. You have the numbers, get up, stand up and make your numbers count.
“I appeal to the young Nigerians to stop inheriting other people’s prejudices and enemies. Make your own friends and stop inheriting your father’s enemies. Let’s stop criminalising and demonising one another on the basis of the civil war on which we are all wrong. And let’s praise and thank God for preserving the oneness of Nigeria,’’ he appealed.