Utomi Reacts As Afenifere Justifies Peter Obi’s Endorsement

A chieftain of the Labour Party (LP), Pat Utomi, has applauded the Yoruba socio-cultural group Afenifere for justifying its support for Peter Obi.

Naija News had reported that Afenifere leader, Chief Ayo Adebanjo on Monday restated that the group would support the LP Presidential Candidate for the 2023 presidency.

Adebanjo while speaking at a press conference in Lagos said the group would not support the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu, and the flagbearer of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar.

The elder statesman said that Obi is the man the group can trust to restructure the country back to federalism on the assumption of office.

Speaking on Monday during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today, Utomi stated that the Yoruba group has done the moral thing and backed its words with action.

The Political economist also dismissed insinuations that Afenifere does not pull political weight in the South West, stressing that the group is committed to being principle-centered.

He said: “Afenifere has established, over a long period of time a commitment to being principle-centred. it is hard, to begin with, that today. If anything, the challenge of politics today in Nigeria is that there has been a sign of politics without principles.

“All Nigerians can do is to admire and show respect for the leadership of Pa Adebanjo which is principle-centred.

“Afenifere constitutes a moral authority, and when you combine that moral authority with the fact that they have been able to build a clear alliance with PANDEF, Middle Belt Forum and together they have been speaking on this matter alongside Ohaneze Ndigbo. You see that there is a certain body of opinion in Nigeria who are major stakeholders who can say this is what is principled and this is what is right.”