The presidential candidate for the African Action Congress, Omoyele Sowore, has called former president Olusegun Obasanjo’s backing of Peter Obi, his rival in the Labour Party, a “endorsement of failure.”
The Sunday endorsement of Obi by Obasanjo drew criticism from rival political parties. The All Progressives Congress called it a “worthless” political maneuver and said it would not have any bearing on Bola Tinubu’s bid for the presidency. The Peoples Democratic Party held similar opinion.
Sowore responded on Monday by writing on Facebook that Obasanjo was an overrated Nigerian leader who “fetsihized the rumination of Nigeria.”
He declared that he would be content with “the people’s endorsement” rather than an Obasanjo’s endorsement.
In his New Year’s speech, Obasanjo referred to Obi as his protege and said the former governor of Anambra State has an advantage in the elections of 2023.
Obasanjo said: “None of the contestants is a saint but when one compares their character, antecedent, their understanding, knowledge, discipline, and vitality that they can bring to bear and the great efforts required to stay focused on the job, particularly looking at where the country is today and with the experience on the job that I had, Peter Obi as a mentee has an edge.
“Others like all of us have what they can collectively contribute to the new dispensation to liberation, restoration and salvaging of Nigeria.
“One other important point to make about Peter is that he is a needle with thread attached to it from North and South and he may not get lost.
“In other words, he has people who can pull his ears, if and when necessary. He has a young and able running mate with a clean track record of achievement both in public and private life.”
