By Harry Awurumibe, Editor Abuja Bureau
The presidential ambition of Labour Party (LP) flag-bearer, Peter Gregory Obi has again received a big boost with his endorsement by former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Elder Babachir Lawal and teeming his followers.
This is even as Lawal revealed that the whole Northern Christians are supporting Obi and his running mate, Senator Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed ticket in order to secure their political future and survival just as he believes that Obi will win the 2023 general election.
Speaking on Channels Television current affairs programme Politics Today monitored by Prompt News Online on Thursday night, the former SGF argued that the choice to support LP and its candidate was made after a careful study of the current political situation in the country.
According to him: “The decision to support Mr. Peter Obi of Labour Party was made after surveying the political climate. We made up our minds to align ourselves with Peter Obi because he has the potential to win next year’s presidential election.
“When you go to the rural areas in the North everyone is doing Obi, Obi, Obi. Besides, Obi has character and track records of excellence. He has the capacity to deliver his campaign promises. So it is only wise for us to support”.
Asked if he has resigned from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) before declaring support for LP candidate, he said he is still a member of APC but is disgusted by the shabby treatment meted out to Christian members of the party especially by its opting for Muslim-muslim ticket.
Lawal insists that for the party to settle for the Muslim-muslim ticket despite the objection of Christian members show that the party has no regards for the Christians even as he has predicted that APC will not win the presidential election.
“APC is not on the ballot in 2023 general Election because I warned them before they did the Muslim-Muslim ticket. They will lose in all the Hausa-Fulani states, APC candidate Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu will not get votes in the entire South East”.
“In fact, (Rabiu) Kwakwanso will get Hausa states of Kano, Katsina and Jigawa so APC will not win there. Also, Atiku Abubakar, a Fulani-Hausa man will clear Adamawa, his own state and many of the North”.
“He will get votes in the South West, his party is strong in the South West too, so where will Bola Tinubu get his votes.
“Peter Obi will win Adamawa, Gombe, Nasarawa, Taraba and Northern region where Christians are many. Obi will clear South East, South South and he will get required votes in the South West, so Obi will win the election”, Lawal insists.
Asked what he will do if Obi fails to win the 2023 General Elections, he said: “I gain nothing in politics because I am a very successful farmer. I will still be doing my farming business. I don’t have anything to lose”.
