The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has tackled former President Olusegun Obasanjo over his recent comment that he made a mistake appointing Atiku Abubakar as his vice in 1999.
The party threatened that if the former President fails to clarify the statements credited to him on its presidential candidate in 48 hours, it will be left with no option but to expose Obasanjo and tell Nigerians who he is in reality.
Addressing a press conference in Kaduna, the PDP Board of Trustees (BoT) Chairman, Senator Walid Jibrin, who said he and the PDP have high regard and respect for the former president, said it will be very disappointing if the statement credited to him and carried in virtually all the national dailies is true.
He said the statement, which was, among others, that he (Obasanjo) made a mistake in appointing Atiku as his running mate, was unfortunate.
The elder statesman said, “I wish to appeal to former President Obasanjo to come out openly to repeat what he has said. Whether or not he was misquoted or meant what was credited to him.
“Although he has not debunked what was reported, one can assume that what was quoted to have been said by him is correct, but if he fails to openly come out and say which is correct in 48 hours, you will hear the bombardment, and I will have no option but to break the egg and tell the whole world and Nigerians who Obasanjo is.
“There is no doubt Obasanjo may still be angry with Atiku even after helping him to succeed, but perhaps for truncating his third-term agenda. In any case, Alhaji Abubakar Atiku is our presidential candidate, and I can tell you for sure that he will be the President in 2023, Insha Allah ”.
On the outcome of the presidential primary and subsequent picking of Governor Ifeanyi Okowa as the running mate of Atiku, which may have angered Rivers Governor Nyesom Wike, the BoT Chairman said a high-powered reconciliatory committee will soon meet Governor Wike and appeal to him.
”Governor Wike is a great party man who fought for the party. When the committee is constituted, in which we will also bring other contestants together, we will go and meet with Governor Wike and appeal to him, even if it means kneeling down to beg him.
“It is our belief that in any contest, there will always be a winner and a loser, and we must take whatever comes our way as the will of God who gives power to whatever he wishes at the time he wishes.”
