Why I Rejected Offer To Be Peter Obi’s Running Mate – Shagari

A former Deputy Governor of Sokoto State, Mukhtar Shagari has revealed why he rejected the offer to be the running mate to the presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi.

Shagari disclosed he was contacted to be the vice presidential candidate of LP in the 2023 general elections, but he rejected the offer.

He noted that as chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) he believes LP can’t defeat PDP in the forthcoming election.

Shagari stated this while speaking during an interview on Channels TV on Tuesday.

The former Deputy Governor further stated that the party of the former Governor of Anambra State has no presence in Sokoto where he hails from.

Giving reasons why he turned down the offer, Shagari said, “I was contacted to be the running mate of Peter Obi. I told them I will not be able to leave my Party because I believe in the philosophy of my Party, I believe in what my Party stands for in Nigeria and I also believe that the Labour Party will not be able to beat my party at any election.

“What is happening? So many young people as you said, who are those young people? I asked the Labour Party members that contacted me,  ‘Tell me who really is the Chairman of the Labour Party in Sokoto State? Who are the candidates of the Labour Party in Sokoto State? Who is contesting for Senate? Who is contesting for governorship and so on and so forth, I did not get any successful answer.

“The issue is at any point in time, Nigerians are not looking for lofty ideas, Nigerians are looking for solutions to the problems and maladies of this country in the area of economy, in the area of security,  in the area of infrastructure, in the area of poverty alleviation.”