Atiku Speaks on Support for 2023 Race
Abubakar Atiku, the People’s Democratic Party’s (PDP) presidential candidate, has claimed that former President Olusegun doesn’t have a more deserving opponent than himself.
The PDP candidate made this assertion while speaking in an interview with Arise TV on Friday.
Atiku claimed he had spoken with the former leader and added that the only thing he hasn’t done yet pays him a visit since becoming the PDP’s presidential candidate.
When asked if Atiku has or needs Obasanjo’s support, Atiku said, “Why will I not need his support? He was my former boss. Why will I not need his support? Of course, I will need his support. I assume I have it.”
The former vice president of Nigeria stated that he is still responsible for carrying on the legacy of the late president Obasanjo.
Recall that Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s presidential candidate, had already consulted with the former leader to win his support and blessing before the 2023 presidential election.
Atiku has stated that he is already in contact with Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike and that there would soon be a reconciliation between the two parties.
The PDP presidential candidate said, “We are reaching out to Governor Wike, and we are talking with him, and I believe we will soon find a reconciliation. In fact, very soon, because we are talking to him.
“We are talking to his governor colleagues. I am very optimistic we will resolve our internal crisis and move on,” he added.
Atiku observed that he accepted the governor and characterised Wike as a powerful politician with a bright future in Nigerian politics.
He said, “The committee that was set up at my instance deliberated. There was no vote, and they recommended three names because they knew it was my prerogative to pick any one of the three. So, there was no vote. It’s not true.
“He Governor Ortom himself chaired that committee. He knew there was no vote taken, and I have the report of that committee. The committee recommended three people, and I picked one. I did not go out of that recommendation. So, I think people should be fair to me and state the fact,” he added.
Recall that there was controversy when Atiku chose Governor Ifeanyi Okowo of Delta State over Wike as his running mate.
Wike was rumoured to be considering joining the governing All Progressives Congress, APC, after Atiku unveiled Okowa.
The PDP selection committee suggested the Rivers State governor after Wike received the support of 13 out of the party’s stakeholder meeting’s 17 members.
In the PDP presidential primaries, Wike received 237 votes as opposed to Atiku’s 371 votes, who won the party ticket.
