2023 Election: Clark, IBB, Ortom Endorse Peter Obi For President
2023 Election: Clark, IBB, Ortom Endorse Peter Obi For President
Former military Head of State, General Ibrahim Babangida, and elder statesman, Chief Edwin Clark, on Tuesday endorsed Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), for president in the 2023 general election.
This is coming as Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State on Tuesday also threw his weight behind the endorsement of Peter Obi by former President Olusegun Obasanjo.
Obasanjo had on Sunday endorsed Peter Obi for president.
General Babangida’s endorsement was conveyed in his verified Twitter handle @General_Ibbro, following on the lead on new year day by former President Olusegun Obasanjo.
Babangida, who extolled the leadership role of President Olusegun Obasanjo, identifying him as an elder statesman and foremost General, said he cannot agree less with his endorsement of Obi, a position that has equally set the social media abuzz.
He said: “Gen. Olusegun Obasanjo will forever be a true elder statesman and a boss in the military. No serving General in the Nigerian army today joined the military earlier than 1982. By then, Obasanjo had already finished his military career. I respect him a lot, with his endorsement”.
Similarly, leader of the Pan-Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), Chief Edwin Clark, in a four-page statement he personally read in Abuja, on Tuesday, said Peter Obi and his running mate, Ahmad Datti, met all the qualification to lead Nigeria at this time.
Chief Clark in the statement entitled ‘Peter Obi, My Choice for the 2023 Presidential Election’, said he came to that conclusion after a meeting of PANDEF leaders where the demands of leaders of Niger Delta region were articulated and presented to the former governor of Anambra State.
He said Obi shares his vision of a united, egalitarian and just society built on shared prosperity and commitment to justice, equity and fairness.
Chief Clark said Obi’s vision for Nigerian youths hitherto forgotten by successive administrations calls for total support for it to be realised and urged all well-meaning Nigerians irrespective of religious and political leaning to rally support for the Obi-Datti presidency.
“I have since been fully briefed on the successful outcome of the interaction held at that occasion. Amongst other things, I have taken note of the following observations which came out of the meeting:
“That PANDEF presented the expectations and demands of the peoples of the Niger Delta, comprising infrastructural development, devolution of power, resource control, effective and inclusive participation in the oil and gas sector, amongst other things, to the presidential candidate.
“That the vision statement shared by His Excellency Peter Obi at the occasion, as it relates to making Nigeria more productive, using the rich resource endowment in every part of the country; curbing waste and fighting corruption; and creating jobs for our teeming youths through innovative initiatives is very commendable.
“That his restated commitment to restructuring and devolution of power, will promote harmony, peaceful coexistence amongst the states and constituent parts of the country.
“That his vision for more equity and justice as it pertains to the South-South region, which in the past sixty years has produced much of the revenue for the national economy, but has been neglected with little impact in terms of infrastructure and social development, is convincing and commendable”.
Chief Clark said Peter Obi’s commitment to environmental justice to the cleanup of the Niger Delta polluted communities and unwavering commitment to reactivation of ports, development of blue economy and maritime sector, and investment in gas sector, developing of modular refineries, are dear to his heart.
He listed the qualifications of the Obi-Datti candidacy to include their sound education, insisting that “those who aspire to rule Nigeria must have good education, transparency and well-articulated vision for moving the country forward”.
On the strength of the above, he declared the Obi-Datti presidency will better address the current challenges facing the country, adding, “The youths are the greatest beneficiary of Mr. Peter Obi’s presidential election victory, because no previous government has thought of their interest. Nigeria is one of the most uneducated countries in the world, it is the world poverty capital. Mr. Peter Obi’s election will definitely take care of the presidency of Nigeria by rotation, because Nigeria does not belong to one religion, region, etc.
“The decision of the leaders of Southern Nigeria and Middle Belt Forum, which I also lead, that the Northern part of the country as represented by President Muhammadu Buhari, which would have completed full eight years as president by 29th May, 2023, should yield power to candidates from the South for purpose of unity, equity and fair play.
“That the South-East geo political zone, which has not produced any elected president of this country since after the First Republic, and particularly during this Fourth Republic should be given the opportunity to produce the next president of Nigeria given that the zone has the capacity to present highly competent and qualified persons for the office.
“That this will bring to practical expression the commitment of the General Yakubu Gowon led Federal Military Government of ‘No Victor, No Vanquished’, a dictum, at the end of the Nigerian Civil War in 1970. This was where General Yakubu Gowon directed my former boss and military governor of defunct Mid-West State, Col. S.O. Ogbemudia, to canvass for reconciliation, reintegration, rehabilitation and reconstruction of every section of the country, while I, as Commissioner for Education was saddled with the responsibility for playing critical role in the implementation of these policies.
“And that, given his sound educational background, distinguished antecedent in professional life and track record as one of the most outstanding governors this country has ever produced during his tenure in Anambra State and his vision for the country and the Niger Delta in particular, His Excellency Peter Obi is eminently qualified to lead this country as president.”
Ortom Backs Obasanjo’s Endorsement Of Obi
Correspondingly, Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State has thrown his weight behind the endorsement of the presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi, by former President Olusegun Obasanjo.
The governor, who is a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and supports the endorsement of Obi by Obasanjo also recommended Obi to Nigerians as a man with the capacity to rule the nation.
In a statement signed by Terver Akase, Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to Governor Ortom and made available to newsmen in Makurdi on Tuesday, the governor was quick to say that if he were not a member of the PDP, he would have personally led Obi’s campaign across the country.
The statement read in part, “Benue State governor, Samuel Ortom, commends former President Olusegun Obasanjo over his endorsement of Peter Obi as the right candidate to win this year’s presidential election and provide the leadership that Nigerians desire.
“The governor states that if he were not a member of the Peoples Democratic Party he would have personally led Obi’s campaign across the country.
“Governor Ortom strongly recommends Peter Obi to Nigerians as the man who has the capacity to effectively tackle the economic, security and other challenges facing the country.”
The statement further explained that “He (Ortom) is convinced that Obi possesses the qualities of a leader who will be a true president of this country by guaranteeing justice, equity and fairness for all Nigerians.
“The governor stresses that for some years, the country has been tottering on the verge of collapse, owing to leadership failure and its attendant consequences of poverty, heightened insecurity with banditry, kidnappings and other acts of terrorism threatening the very foundations of the nation.
“The president that Nigeria needs at this challenging time in the country’s history is one who understands the urgent need to unite the people and speedily initiate policies and actions to redirect the ship of the nation on the path of growth and development, and emphasises that Peter Obi has all such qualities.”
Governor Ortom, therefore, lauded Obasanjo for demonstrating objectivity, truth and patriotism as a statesman whose views on national issues must be taken seriously.
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