” I admire your eloquence, calmness, humility, respect for culture, and fear of God.”
By Anayochukwu Agbo
Ahead of the official start of campaigns for the 2023 general elections on September 28, Peter Obi, Labour Party’s presidential candidate, and his running mate, Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed, quickened consultations with key stakeholders in the North over the weekend.
On Sunday, September 25, they visited former military head of state, General Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida, IBB, (rtd) at his Hilltop residence in Minna, Niger State.
Obi Shared pictures of the meeting on his Twitter handle and gave insight into the meeting:
“Today, my running mate, Dr. Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed and I visited President Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida, GCFR, at his home in Minna.
“He received us very warmly and we had insightful conversations on the state of affairs in our country.
“We are grateful to IBB for his fatherly welcome and counsel.”
On Friday September 23, the duo were at the palace of the Emir of Kano, Alhaji Aminu Ado Bayero, before proceeding to commiserate with the flood victims in the State
Stating his admiration for Obi, the Emir said, “I admire your eloquence, calmness, humility, respect for culture, and fear of God.”
Yunusa Tanko, spokesman of Third Force who was in the entourage, Said that Obi visited the revered monarch as he arrived Kano to sympathize with the Kano Flood Victims as well as Beirut Road Collapsed Building.
Obi used the occasion of the visit to brief the Emir of his desire to serve Nigeria as the next president come 2023. He said he had been exposed to various areas of governance for years and was experienced enough to lead Nigeria.
“Though l am in the State for sympathy visit, l deem it appropriate to make the Palace my first point of call to pay you royal homage and to formally inform you of my intention to run for president in the forthcoming election.”
The Emir noted that Nigeria was blessed with abundant resources but wondered why there were suffering, poverty and crimes. He said he believed Obi was eminently qualified for the position as he did it as Anambra State governor. He wished Obi well in the pursuit of his ambition.
Obi was in company of Kano State gubernatorial candidate of Labour Party, Engineer Bashir Ishaq Bashir, his running mate Dr. Datti Yusuf Baba-Ahmed , Dr Yunusa Tanko and State Chairman of Labour Party Mall Raji in his entourage.
As the campaigns begin, Labour have to step up canvassing in the North, especially North West and Northeast. The largest bloc of voters in the country is the North West. The running mate of Obi is from North West, Kaduna, and this is expected to help the cause of Labour Party.
The Presidential candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party, NNPP, Rabiu Kwankwaso, is also from Kano, Northwest. Kano has the highest number of registered voters in the Country. Kwankwaso is seen as a plant by Bola Tinubu, All Progressives Congress, APC, Presidential candidate, to whittle down the impact of Kano votes. He could equally reduce Kano votes for Tinubu should Ganduje want to deliver bloc votes to APC, making Kwankwaso possible banana peels for the three leading candidates. But he insists he is in the race to win. An attempt to make him form an alliance with Obi failed because he insisted on being the presidential candidate.
The Kano State Governor, Abdullahi Ganduje is seen to be a Buhari supporter and is visibly supporting Tinubu. But all that could change before election day. The North have not entirely accepted Tinubu or Obi; nor have they rejected Atiku. So far, they are keeping their options open.
If the North finally concedes the Presidency to the South, then they will further make a decision to go with Obi or Tinubu.
Such consensus may also fail. In 2023. The North is becoming more sophisticated and people may vote outside the authority of opinion leaders and political merchants.
Obi may break the old order in 2023.
