Elder statesman and leader of Afenifere, pan-Yoruba socio-political group, Ayo Adebanjo, has hailed the endorsement of the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, (LP), Peter Obi, by former president, Olusegun Obasanjo.
Adebanjo, who spoke yesterday, noted that the country will be in trouble if Obi is not elected president in 2023.
The elder statesman however said he was not surprised by Obasanjo’s action, saying the former President has always been in support of power shift to the South-East in the interest of equity, fairness and justice, as well as keeping the country together.
He stated that the decision of the Afenifere to support Obi was ideological and principled, saying other regions except the South-East had enjoyed the privilege of being in the saddle.
He stated that there was no justification for the APC Presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to contest when Obasanjo, from the South-West was President for eight years.
He said the same thing applies to the PDP candidate, Atiku Abubakar, noting it was wrong for another Northerner to take over when a Northerner is exiting.
Asked if he and Obasanjo would be able to convince voters in the South-West to vote for Obi, he said those who believe in principle would support their position, adding, “Don’t bring in ethnicity. I said it in my statement. If it is about ethnicity, I should support Tinubu. I made him the governor but I am not supporting him as President. Yoruba people don’t cheat others.
Ahead of the election, Adebanjo urged Nigerians to vote the right people in the right places, saying, “If they vote outside Obi, Nigeria will be in trouble. Anything outside Obi, we are in trouble”.
