2023: Why Obasanjo And I Choose Peter Obi — Afenifere Leader

Afenifere leader Chief Ayo Adebanjo has shed light on his and Olusegun Obasanjo's decision to back Labour Party flag bearer Peter Obi in the 2023 presidential election.

Obasanjo as of the time of writing this report has not officially named Obi as his preferred choice but has given hints that the former governor is the man for the job.

The former president previously said that he has bled for the country and cannot be threatened over who he chooses to support in the race for the 2023 presidency.

Speaking on their reason for choosing Obi, Pa Adebanjo who spoke to Punch disclosed that he has had disagreements with Obasanjo in the past but they see a common ground now because this is an issue that concerns Nigeria.

Pa Ayo Adebanjo

“What unites us is Nigeria. All the time I disagreed with him, there was no personal issue.

"It was on this issue of Nigeria and we agree it should be better. We all agreed that Obi is the man.

"That is why we are friends. And that was what we made clear to the people of the East.

"It was the question of Nigeria and we were able to demonstrate the importance of Obi’s victory in the election. Even people who do not agree on things agree on this one.

Olusegun Obasanjo and Peter Obi

“That is to show you that we elderly people are united in one thing: bring Nigeria together. We are not looking at the past; that will not help us now.

"What will help us is to amend all the evil things that the (President, Major General Muhammadu) Buhari (retd.) government has done.

"The man (Buhari) is telling us he has done his best when his best is the worst administration we have had in the past 20 years", he said.

Speaking on his campaign assessment so far, the Afenifere leader opined that, unlike the rest, Obi's campaign is issue-based.

“Not all of them have been having issues-based (campaigns) and that is the truth, but Obi has been running issues-based campaigns.

"He has been very consistent about what he plans to do. Tinubu’s people have been abusing people, while Atiku’s people are also attacking them", Adebanjo added.