PDP Chieftain Reveals How Obasanjo Recommended His Preferred Presidential Candidate, Obi As Atiku’s Running Mate In 2019

A member of the strategic communications directorate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential campaign council (PCC), Anthony Ehilebo has revealed how Peter Obi emerged as the running mate of Atiku Abubakar in the 2019 elections.

Ehilebo while speaking on Channels TV on Monday claimed that former President, Olusegun Obasanjo recommended Obi as Atiku’s running mate in 2019.

The PDP chieftain while speaking on Obasanjo endorsing Obi’s presidential ambition said, “In 2019, he supported our candidate, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, but I’ll tell you a backstory that people hardly know. People don’t even know that he was the one that recommended his present candidate of choice to Atiku Abubakar as a condition for supporting him in 2019.

“That was the plan: ‘have these two people run on the platform so that you [Atiku] can mentor him and by the time he comes of age, he’ll be able to [run for president].”

Ehilebo who condemned Obasanjo for endorsing Obi said he would have preferred if Obasanjo had prioritised experience and capacity.

He further stated, “I read the letter where he said the situation and the scenarios are quite different. Respectfully, I beg to differ with the General because when you look at 1999 to 2007, the scenarios are similar and when you want to deal with an issue such as the Nigerian malady that we face today, you must bring in experience, you must bring in capacity.

“President Obasanjo has, in time past, praised Atiku Abubakar for handling the economy while he was going around the world trying to repair the image of Nigeria.

“Atiku explains how they ran the government and how he was able to bring in experts like Bode Agusto who he got to run the government based on his affinity for Nigeria, and his love for the country.

“And without commensurate pay, he agreed to work for the government of Obasanjo, same thing with people like Soludo, the eggheads that we had in the Obasanjo government. This was after an intense nine-month period of developing an economic blueprint.

“Now, you wouldn’t say Nigeria is in that same position and you don’t want to use the (same approach), maybe for some reason. I’ve had extensive conversations with the General and I think his heart is in a good place; he has the best interests of Nigeria at heart.”