The Director General of the Atiku Abubakar Presidential Campaign
Organisation, Otunba Gbenga Daniel yesterday gave reasons why former
Anambra State governor, Peter Obi, was picked as the running mate to the
presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji
Atiku Abubakar.
In a statement last night, Gbenga Daniel said,
Obi’s choice was largely influenced by his youthfulness, vast knowledge
of global and local economics as well as being a financial expert, all
experience which Nigeria is in great need of at this point in time.
“This ticket will be able to steer our nation back on the path of progress, economic prosperity and unity,” Daniel said.
In line with its pre-primary election zoning formula, Atiku yesterday
picked ex-Governor Peter Obi as his running mate for the 2019
presidential election.
With the development, the party has returned to the winning formula of
the defunct National Party of Nigeria from 1979 to 1983 in which
ex-President Shehu Shagari paired with the late former Vice President
Alex Ekwueme.
PDP’s zoning of the VP slot to the South East was allegedly designed to
woo the Igbo who had been complaining of marginalization.
Since the conclusion of PDP presidential primaries, party leaders have
narrowed the choice of vice presidential candidate to the South-West and
the South-East.
But Atiku and the party leadership have opted for the South-East in order to address “the marginalization of the zone.”
Already, the PDP has given a copy of the nomination form to Obi to fill
with the ex-governor having audience with Atiku at about 5 pm yesterday.
It was also gathered that a South-South governor may be appointed as the
Director-General of the Presidential Campaign Organisation of the PDP.
A top PDP source told The Nation that: “Earlier on Monday, the PDP
presented guidelines to Atiku and eventually, it was agreed that
ex-Governor Peter Obi fits into the criteria set out.
“The concession of the slot to the South-East was also in line with the wish of Atiku.
“In its power sharing formula, the PDP had conceded the VP slot to the
South-East and reneging on the agreement would have been fatal for the
party in 2019.
“Apart from being a prudent leader, Obi has rich experience in the
private and public sectors which will help him manage the nation’s
economy as the Chairman of the National Economic Council (NEC).
“The banking sector, which is the mainstay of the nation’s economy, will have a new lease of life with Obi in charge..”
