Akin Osuntokun, the newly appointed Director General (DG) of the Presidential Campaign Council (PCC) of the Labour Party, said that former President Olusegun Obasanjo has given his “full” support to Peter Obi’s campaign for president in 2023. Obi is the presidential candidate of the Labour Party.
During his live appearance on Channels TV’s Politics Today on Wednesday, Osuntokun was asked if Obasanjo is “totally backing” Obi’s campaign. He answered with a loud “Yes!”
This happened just 24 hours after the LP named the former assistant to the president as its new director general for the presidential campaign. He is replacing Doyin Okupe, who quit after a Federal High Court in Abuja found him guilty of breaking the Money Laundering Act on December 19.
In reference to his and Okupe’s personal friendship with the former president, Osuntokun said, “He is a father figure.” That is a better way to describe the connection. To us, he is a father figure rather than an “ally.” If what you’re saying is true, do you mean I’m not qualified for the position? Am I not capable of handling it?
When asked if the former president had recommended him for the position, Osuntokun responded, “You’ll have to ask the presidential candidate, my principal, whether it was an Obasanjo slot, and that’s how the position was filled.”
Remember, I was the campaign’s immediate zonal coordinator in the South-West, so this is virtually an advancement. It’s not that I’ve recently joined the campaign organisation, but if you claim that Obasanjo holds that position, you are free to say so.
The campaign director general claimed that what matters most is what he contributes, not who made the decision to select him.
Ignore who recommended me or whether I’m taking someone else’s place. That’s not a problem. What matters most is my ability and skill to complete the task. Why should I object if Obasanjo suggests a highly capable individual who will lead the party to victory? “It’s not a big deal for me,” he remarked.
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Osuntokun viewed Okupe’s dismissal as a bittersweet experience when speaking about it. According to reports, the reason it was so nasty was because of how his predecessor left.
“That’s the first verdict I’ve heard where the person in front of her was essentially exonerated.” She claimed that the judge, and not the defence attorney, had made an honest error. In these conditions, I don’t think it’s good for the party.
He should receive a better sendoff than that. Life must nevertheless continue on. I’m back at a place I know well. I am accustomed to political campaigns. “I enjoyed serving as a political adviser for President Goodluck Jonathan in 2011 and 2003, respectively, as well as in 2007 and 2003,” he added.
Osuntokun argued that it is important to distinguish between a party’s campaign organisation and its organisational structure by stating that he is no longer a member of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).
There is a feeling of déjà vu because I wasn’t a PDP member in 2022 when President Obasanjo named me director of publicity. However, after I take office, I will naturally become a member of the Labour Party. “I’m a member, then, in that sense,” he added.
As the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) senatorial candidate for Ekiti Central in the elections of 2023, Osuntokun also addressed the perceived conflict of interest caused by his name being on the INEC website.
When asked if he was still running for the Senate position, he responded, “No. If you want to say that, I’ve given up on it. In this regard, the campaign office has released a press release. What legislation have I broken by accepting the appointment? That is the question you should be asking. What legal requirement did the presidential candidate who selected me violate in doing so?
“I can’t assist somebody who wants to live a life of fame.” The person purportedly doing this is the Labour Party’s National Publicity Secretary (Abayomi Arabambi). Ask him: Why would a party’s national publicity secretary harm his own party in that way?
“That’s a pointless question.” Legally and constitutionally, it means absolutely nothing. No moral obligation exists at all. For me, supporting the Obi campaign is more important for the country than any other goal.
