Obidient Movement, supporters of Peter Obi, the Labour Party presidential candidate in the 2023 general elections are calling for a collaboration between Obi and former Vice-President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo ahead of the 2027 elections.
While Osinbajo is still a member of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), he has not really been visible in the party activities since he and former president Muhammadu Buhari left office in May 2023.
Those who spoke with TheScrutiny on Monday said the ideas of both men are needed if Nigeria is to be rescued from the bad governance from successive leaders that has stunted the country’s growth and development.
Abdullahi Alawode, a staunch Obidient member in UK told our correspondent that he raised the issue during Obi’s last visit in May.
“I am a die-hard loyalist of Peter Obi. I was rooting for the former VP Osinbajo to become president in 2023. After the powerbrokers in APC edged him out in the primaries, I switched camp to Obi and I have been a member of the Obidient Movement since”.
” I will like to see a collaboration between Obi and Osinbajo. I strongly believe the two should share ideas on the forthcoming elections. They don’t have to belong to the same political party to do this. What should be paramount to them is getting Nigeria out of the woods”.
Sharing similar view, Ajoke Afolayan, another Obidient member says both Osinbajo and Obi share the same passion about the state of affairs of Nigeria.
“When I look at both men, I see a burning passion to serve and place Nigeria on a global pedestal. Look at what Osinbajo did in 2022 during the APC primary. He had to defy the current president who nominated him as vice-president all because of his passion to serve. Obi did the same too. He left PDP a much bigger platform for LP just because of his desire to turn the country around for good”
” Mr. Peter Obi should meet with Osinbajo and other people of like minds and strategise well ahead of the 2027 election. We need everyone to come together and save our country from total collapse and end bad governance in the country”.
Speaking with our correspondent, Dr. Yunusa Tanko, spokesman of the Obi-Datti Presidential Campaign Council and head of the Peter Obi Media Reach (POMR) said Obi is ready to meet and partner with anyone who shares his vision of rescuing Nigeria and giving citizens a new lease of life.
“I have always said thar politics is dynamic. There is no permanent friend or enemy in politics but permanent interests. If the interest is mutual and it is all about rescuing Nigeria from bad governance and giving our youths a brighter future, you can talk to anybody at anytime”.
” I remember His Excellency Peter Obi asked me about somebody and I told him what I know about the person. He said ‘ At this particular point in time, I need everybody to work with because you don’t know who can help. Even an enemy, by the time you talk to that person, he may have a change of heart and support you”.
” So, that is the kind of person Peter Obi is. He is not shying away from meeting or talking with anybody. He even once told me about the relationship he had with somebody whom he said was angry with him. He said he told him ‘ Oga, you are angry with me?’ I am sorry. I am coming to your house to have dinner and please, prepare a bedroom for me because I will also pass the night at your house’. The man thought he was joking but he went there and they had a discussions over the night.
That is the kind of person Peter Obi is. He is ready to collaborate with anyone who shares his passion about a Nigeria that works for us all. So, if he has to meet with the former vice president and other eminent personalities in the interest of Nigeria, he is ready to do so. So, it is not impossible”.
