After news broke out that former President, Olusegun Obasanjo has publicly endorsed Labour Party’s standard bearer, Peter Obi for presidency in 2023, Nigerians have dismissed the odds of such endorsement culminating into a political advantage for Obi.
According to netizens, Obasanjo does not hold any political influence, even in the South West to have the endorsement connoting a political edge.
They also recalled how Obasanjo endorsed his former vice-president, Atiku Abubakar for presidency in 2019, but ended up in a fatal failure as Atiku lost to President Muhammadu Buhari.
In his 2023 New Year message signed by the former President and made available to newsmen by his aide, Kehinde Akinyemi on Sunday, Obasanjo described Obi as his mentee and said the former Anambra State governor had an edge in the 2023 elections.
Obasanjo said, “None of the contestants is a saint but when one compares their character, antecedent, their understanding, knowledge, discipline, and vitality that they can bring to bear and the great efforts required to stay focused on the job, particularly looking at where the country is today and with the experience on the job that I personally had, Peter Obi as a mentee has an edge.
“Others like all of us have what they can collectively contribute to the new dispensation to liberation, restoration and salvaging of Nigeria.
Nigerians have since not paid any regard to that in cognizance of Obasanjo’s shrunken political sway.
@Ibrahimasani1 wrote on Twitter: Remember he endorsed Atiku in 2019. All Atiku people have decamped.
@Mohammed21934668: This man never want anyone that can surpass is record in office, he has endorsed another weak one. Someone he can manipulate, he never pitch his tent with high fliers. Nigerians Will respond to him by 25th February, 2023 @fkeyamo @officialABAT @Makuachukwu4Ada
@Ogunbajo_owo: Obasanjo has the right to endorse whoever he want. But, the truth is he doesn’t have electoral value in south west.
@Hakeemazeez7: Congrats,you are surrounded by sycophants who cannot win election in their domain am sorry for you
@Mabayomji: Electorally insignificant pair. What an endorsement!
@OduObodumu: How many supporters does Obj command today? Even those who worked with him before won’t listen to him today, he is obviously not in control of anywhere in Ogun State, not even his farm