A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP and former Governor of Anambra State, Dr Jim Nwobodo have cried over the decision of Mr. Peter Obi to leave the PDP for the Labour Party (LP), insisting that he would have easily been Atiku`s choice for running mate.
This is against the backdrop of Atiku`s choice of Governor Emmanuel Okowa, the current governor of Delta State, whose name was announced by Alhaji Abubakar Atiku on Thursday.
Dr. Nwobodo said that Peter Obi would have been the right man for the job, but only if he remained in the PDP, while also noting that only the PDP has the hope to birth an Igbo president.
“He should never have left because if Obi were there, Atiku will have no problem in picking him as his vice,” said Jim Nwobodo, who is an elder statement and a chieftain of the PDP.
On why he thinks that the chances of an Igbo man becoming Nigeria`s president is only brighter in PDP, than APC, he noted that he has associates who are currently in the APC. He said that amongst these associates in APC, it is hard to find any name that rings bell.
“I am not saying that (Igbo presidency cannot come from the APC), but I believe that it is more likely to come within the PDP than APC. I have very good friends in APC but tell me one Igbo man whose name has been sounded in APC?” He said.
Dr. Nwobodo made this disclosure in an interview with Vanguard. He also used same opportunity to blast President Muhammadu Buhari for how he has treated the Igbos since the commencement of his regime.
NOTABLE QUOTES
Dr Nwobodo made the following comments in the said interview with Vangiard:
“I am talking about Igbo presidency but the Igbo presidency will come only through PDP. You see, in party politics, there are always two big political parties usually. If you go to Britain, there are two big political parties. If you go to America, two big political parties. The rest are there.
“So, in Nigeria, there are two big political parties and we have captured one. So, Igbo presidency will still come. If we have somebody who has interest in Nigeria and has a sense of fairness, equity and justice, I am sure Igbo presidency will come. Certainly, I don’t expect to have it in APC.”
“No, I am not saying that (Igbo presidency cannot come from the APC), but I believe that it is more likely to come within the PDP than APC. I have very good friends in APC but tell me one Igbo man whose name has been sounded in APC?”
“Under Buhari and the APC, the Igbo have suffered. This is the worst we have had. Of course, I was very sad (when Peter Obi left PDP). I called him and said why did you leave the PDP? He said one or two things happened and I said no, he should have waited for me. He should have spoken with me, I would have advised him not to leave.
“The beauty of politics is being able to absorb, at times insults, you absorb but you have your eyes on the ball. I blame him for going. He should never have left because if Obi were there, Atiku will have no problem in picking him as his vice,” concluded the former Senator.
