2023: Atiku Seeks Obasanjo’s Endorsement For Presidency

The camp of the Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, is planning to seek the support and open endorsement of former President Olusegun Obasanjo.

Naija News reports that the National Publicity Secretary of the Atiku Support Organisation, Dr Victor Moses, made the disclosure in an interview with The PUNCH on Sunday.

Moses stated that genuine moves were underway to ensure that Obasanjo endorsed Atiku for the 2023 presidency the same way he did in the 2019 presidential election.

He stated that it seems Obasanjo is supporting another candidate, but the party and the Atiku camp are doing everything possible to win him over.

He said: “We are trying to get his endorsement because it would mean a lot for us. Obasanjo was Atiku’s principal, and if he could endorse Atiku in 2019, he should be able to do it now.

“When the time comes, we will reveal our plans on how to do so. Now, it seems as though Obasanjo is supporting another candidate, but we will try to get him on (our side).

“That is why no matter what he (Obasanjo) says about Atiku, he (Atiku) doesn’t respond so he doesn’t escalate the crisis between the two of them. We need his (Obasanjo’s) blessings for Atiku/Okowa ticket.

“Atiku is what he is today because Obasanjo took him up as Adamawa governor and made him his VP. Atiku also contributed significantly to getting Obasanjo to become the president. Obasanjo was nowhere to be found. It was Atiku, Yar’Adua and the rest that fought for democracy.”

Reacting to a recent statement by Obasanjo saying that choosing Atiku as his Vice President was one of the two greatest mistakes he had made in his lifetime, Moses said Atiku refused to respond because of the respect he has for the former leader.

He said: “His Excellency, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, has a lot of respect for Sir Olusegun Obasanjo. That is why no matter what Baba (Obasanjo) says, he doesn’t respond.

“Even when Obasanjo said Atiku was one of the worse mistakes he had made in his lifetime, Atiku didn’t respond because of this respect.”

Moses also challenged anyone with any corruption allegation on Atiku to come forward before he becomes the president in 2023.

He said, “One of the mistakes I made was picking my number two when I wanted to become the President. But because it was a genuine mistake, God saved me.”