But presidential candidate of the APC, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, dismissed Obasanjo’s endorsement of Obi, saying it is worthless.
Acknowledging that it was within the democratic rights of the former president to endorse anyone, Tibunu however said Obasanjo lacks the goodwill and political clout to produce even a local council councillor.
He recalled that past candidates Obasanjo adopted had lost elections in the past, adding that not even in his home state, Ogun, can anyone rely on the former leader’s endorsement to be governor or councillor.
Speaking through the director, Media and Publicity, of the APC presidential campaign council, Bayo Onanuga, Tinubu expressed sympathy for Mr Obi who he said is on his way to joining the lost of losers endorsed by Obasanjo in the past.
According to the APC standard bearer, the former president has a history of failed endorsements.
In a statement he issued yesterday evenin, Onanuga said “We read with amusement the endorsement of Mr. Peter Obi, the Labour Party Presidential Candidate by former President Olusegun Obasanjo in his New Year message on Sunday.
“Following calls by journalists from various media houses who asked for our reaction we decided to make this preliminary statement, though we didn’t consider the so-called endorsement to be of any value.
“We respect the democratic right of former President Obasanjo to support and endorse any candidate of his choice in any election”.
Tinubu noted that any discerning political watcher in Nigeria would have known Obasanjo’s preference for Obi was expected.
The former Lagos governor said Obasanjo is not a democrat who anyone should be proud to be associated with, adding that he would not lose any sleep over the development.
Onanuga continued: “We make bold to say that our party and candidate, Asíwájú Bola Ahmed Tinubu will not lose sleep over Obasanjo’s move, as Obasanjo is notorious for always opposing progressive political forces, as he did against MKO Abiola in 1993.
“The endorsement is actually worthless because the former President does not possess any political goodwill or leverage anywhere in Nigeria to make anyone win a Councillorship election let alone win a Presidential election. He is a political paperweight.
“He is also not a democrat anyone should be proud to be associated with.
“We recall that in 2003 and 2007 general elections when he was a sitting President, Obasanjo used all the coercive instruments of State at his disposal to railroad people into elective offices against the will of Nigerians as expressed at the polls. In 2007, he declared the polls a do-or-die affair after he failed in his bid to amend our constitution to have a third term.
“From our records, President Obasanjo has not successfully made anyone win an election in Nigeria since then.
“Not even in Ogun State can anyone rely on his support or endorsement to become a governor or Councillor.
“We pity Peter Gregory Obi as we are confident that Chief Obasanjo cannot win his polling unit and ward in Abeokuta for Obi in the coming Presidential election on 25 February 2023.