2023: Afenifere Leader, Adebanjo Speaks On Obasanjo Endorsing Peter Obi

Chief Ayo Adebanjo, the leader of the pan-Yoruba sociopolitical organization Afenifere, has praised former President Olusegun Obasanjo for supporting Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party.

Obasanjo on Sunday formally backed Obi as his favorite candidate for president, according to a previous report from Naija News.

Speaking on the endorsement, Adebanjo said he was not shocked that Obasanjo had backed the former governor of Anambra State’s bid for the presidency.

The senior statesman claimed that Obasanjo has consistently supported the South-East as the new center of power.

However, Adebanjo claimed that Nigeria would be in trouble if the populace chose not to vote for Obi in an interview with Daily Trust.

He further stated that the decision of Afenifere to endorse Obi is ideological and principled.

He said, “How are you going to justify Tinubu when Obasanjo had spent eight years? Or how do you justify Atiku when another Northerner is leaving the place? That’s the crux of the matter. The South-West has done, South-South has done, is the South-East not part of Nigeria?”

Asked if he and Obasanjo would be able to convince voters in the South-West to vote for Obi, he said those who believe in principle would support their position, adding, “Don’t bring in ethnicity. I said it in my statement. If it is about ethnicity, I should support Tinubu. I made him the governor but I am not supporting him as President. Yoruba people don’t cheat others.

“We cannot talk of a united Nigeria when the South-East has not had it. I am not like Atiku who said he wants to keep Nigeria. How can you do that when you are denying a part of Nigeria its right?”

Adebanjo while calling on Nigerians to vote the right people in 2023 said, “If they vote outside Obi, Nigeria will be in trouble. Anything outside Obi, we are in trouble.”