After former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s most recent attack on some of Atiku Abubakar’s most important allies, there is new worry in his camp about his chances in the February election.
Obasanjo recently called two of Atiku’s associates traitors during a meeting with a PDP team at his Abeokuta home.
The pair, who hold key positions on the “Atiku for President” team, traveled to Abeokuta last weekend with the party’s delegation.
The PDP group went to meet Obasanjo to ask for his endorsement of the party for the election in February, but they got more than they bargained for when the former president verbally attacked two of the team members for what he considered their treacherous deeds.
One was charged with violating the Southern governors’ decision to rotate the president to the region in 2023, while the other was charged with betraying his party over the sharing of seats back in 2011.
Insiders of the PDP said that the humiliation was bad news for the party, especially in the South West, where Atiku’s chances are usually not very good.
Former governors Olagunsoye Oyinlola and Sule Lamido were among the delegation, as were Atiku’s running mate Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State and Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State.
According to a source who was there during the conversation, Baba was utterly disappointed in one of the men for supporting Atiku. He acknowledged the individual’s right to make their own decisions, but he expressed amazement that a well-known southern leader could be against the call for the transfer of power to the south after eight years of a northern presidency.
“He (Obasanjo) also remembered how the other person had broken the rules of the PDP leadership by forming a coalition with the opposition to stop the party’s choice for Speaker from being nominated.
“He kept questioning whether such people could be relied upon to uphold their word and be loyal to their country. Since he didn’t back Atiku’s run for president, he didn’t like the two of them, which made the conversation tense.
A party representative from Osun State stated: “What is believed to have happened when certain PDP leaders met with former President Obasanjo in Abeokuta has increased our worry in the Southwest.”
The elder statesman did not waste any time in telling our delegates present at the conference that it was incorrect for people from the South to oppose the South’s assumption of power in 2023. Although he has his justifications, his influence as a major political player in the region will hurt our party’s prospects in the Southwest.
Thus, it is reasonable for us to be concerned. But I can promise you that the change hasn’t stopped us.
“Atiku’s campaign is supported by a large number of influential people from the South West.” To make sure that their voices are heard as well, we are working very hard. Obasanjo is free to choose his own position because it is a personal matter for him. We don’t feel sorry for him.
“Those who were there at the meeting as well did not depart without explaining to him what he did not comprehend.” The PDP hopes to win the next election, and we think Atiku gives us a solid opportunity. We won’t stop trying to convince the decent residents of the zone to vote PDP. Keep in mind that Tinubu, the APC’s presidential candidate, is from the Southwest and must be fought in the zone.
Obasanjo’s criticism was expected to have an effect, and it was also learned that Atiku’s supporters are worried about how few people showed up to his Lagos campaign rally on a weekday.
A source says that the PDP presidential candidate was not only upset that so few supporters showed up to the event, but that he also thought this was a bad sign.
“To many of us, fixing Lagos is necessary if Atiku is to win in 2023. The most recent demonstration in Lagos made us all anxious. The attendance wasn’t particularly impressive. “In all honesty, the truth of the situation in Lagos shocked us all,” he remarked.
“However, I must admit that the current circumstances do not accurately reflect Atiku’s support in the state.” He has a sizable following in the state and will have backing throughout the election.
“Our party leaders in the state got into a quarrel, and that’s what led to what transpired.” Going forward, we are making a lot of effort to address these concerns, and I have a great conviction that a permanent change will be made before the next election. We shall demonstrate the PDP’s strength in Lagos at the general election.
From what we’ve heard, Atiku’s supporters are worried about what’s going on in the party’s Oyo State chapter because they think Governor Seyi Makinde’s attitude toward the PDP candidate’s wish will hurt their chances in the February election.
(NATION)
