The 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, has publicly downplayed his role in the proposed anti-Tinubu coalition aimed at challenging President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the 2027 General elections.
Obi, a two-term governor of Anambra State, declared that his focus is not on joining the anti-Tinubu coalition but rather on demanding good governance.
Obi made this known while speaking with journalists on the sidelines of an event where he donated N10 million each to a school and hospital building project being undertaken by the Anglican Church in Kubwa, Abuja, on Monday.
He asserted: “I’m in the coalition against hunger, a coalition against poverty, a coalition against ill health; politics for me is not about positions; it is about doing the right thing.
“Whatever you make of it (the report), I can tell you that I, Peter, have told you where I stand. I just came back (from Rome) this morning; I didn’t talk about politics; I’m talking about the education of these children. I’m not talking about positions.
“In this country, we are not talking about what we should be talking about. What we should be talking about is how we are going to educate our children.”
This comes after reports emerged that former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, who has been championing the anti-Tinubu coalition has reportedly offered Obi a vice-presidential slot ahead of the 2027 elections.
According to the report, Atiku also proposed a single-term presidency deal, with Obi as his running mate.
This was said to have been proposed during a meeting earlier this year in the United Kingdom.
However, Obi’s response suggests a reluctance to align with Atiku’s strategy.
Reacting to the report also, the Obidient Movement refuted the claim linking its principal, Obi, to the alleged pact with Atiku to serve as running mate for the 2027 polls.
Director of Strategic Communications of the movement, Nana Kazaure, in a statement made public in Abuja on Monday, said the refusal became necessary in the light of suggestions that Mr Obi has accepted the alleged offer in the proposed coalition of opposition parties.
Kazaure said: “The Obidient Movement has been inundated with calls from our members within and outside the country, including other members of the public, regarding a media publication claiming that our principal, Peter Obi, has been offered the running mate position to Alhaji Atiku Abubakar in the new coalition being formed ahead of 2027.
“Even as we know that the publication is imaginary to the author, we are tempted not to ignore it because of the possible far-reaching misconception it will have in the public space.
“While frank and cordial engagements with our partners and stakeholders towards a coalition continue amicably, the Obidient Movement would like to state emphatically that there is no truth or basis to the reports whatsoever.
“Without any risk of contradiction, we would like to reiterate that Mr Obi has maintained that his objective and his involvement in a coalition, is to provide a united front against and to tackle issues of bad governance, corruption, hunger, poverty, poor healthcare, out of school children and the myriad of other problems daily afflicting the people of Nigeria.
“We want politics that is progressive, standing firmly with the people and serving the great people of Nigeria and not politics just for the sake of grabbing power.
“At this point, Mr Peter Obi remains in the Labour party, and if ever this changes, he will make that announcement himself.
“The Obidient Movement would like to advise against sensationalism and speculation on these matters. At this difficult time, all Nigerians and the Media, inclusive, should emphasise and contribute to building a better country.”
