By Abubakar Yunus, Abuja
On New Year’s Day, former President Olusegun Obasanjo again deployed his preferred format of letter writing to reset the conversation around the 2023 Presidential election. Specifically, the former President lent his weighty voice in answering the question of who Nigerians should consider from the packed field of presidential contenders. Not so surprising, Peter Obi of Labour Party won this highly sought after endorsement. For a while, the preference of the influential former President was open knowledge.
Using various well-timed public outings, the former President tacitly communicated the point that Obi was his anointed candidate without saying so directly. As a man who has manned the position as the first democratically elected Nigerian leader, since the return of civil rule in 1999, former President Obasanjo’s endorsement is one that is highly coveted by contenders for the highest office in the land. Apart from the massive local mileage to be received by the beneficiary of Obasanjo’s endorsement, there is the big international spotlight the benefiting contender is likely to enjoy.
The former Nigerian leader is a well-respected international statesman, whose boundless energy and commitment to resolving disputes and political impasse on the continent of Africa, have earned him the place of a super statesman. For this reason, anyone Obasanjo points at as the one who the cap fits would definitely see a bounce, as far as the momentum of the race is concerned. Added to the massive advantage of the endorsement is the fact that the former President took his time to frame the endorsement of Obi in glowing terms, which left no room for conjectures.
He said: “None of the contestants is a saint but when one compares their character, antecedent, 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 personally had, Peter Obi as a mentee has an edge. Others like all of us have what they can contribute to the new dispensation to liberation, restoration, and salvaging of Nigeria collectively. 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 the light of the glowing recommendations of the former President, there is no doubt that Obi’s opponents in the race will want to belittle this important victory. Already, the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential campaign spokespersons have bristled at this important endorsement, describing it as one that is of no effect. Nonetheless, what their quick reactions suggest is that the endorsement may get Obi to reap more benefits than they (opponents) can curtail. The former President apart from being one of the most influential Nigerians alive, equally has dependable friends and contacts in the North.
The former President’s glowing praise of Obi could be the elixir needed to douse the cold shoulder the Obi-Datti ticket may have been getting from hardnosed voters in the North.
If the Labour Party can make more inroads into the North, and can do well in the South, Obi’s victory song may well something that shouldn’t be too far in his supporters’ imagination. In the end, while Obi’s rivals may be quick to cast aspersion on the commendation given by the former President, the reality is that they know that the endorsement could contribute to Obi’s coasting home to victory if all ends well. Even so, as the opposition argues in order to make the moment look insignificant, they may not be able to diminish the former President’s position that Obi is the man whom the cap fits.
