The Labour Party’s endorsement of Peter Obi on New Year’s Day to run for president in 2023 seems to have sparked more political commotion in Nigeria, based on how the presidency has responded to the latest development.
Garba Shehu, the President’s Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, responded to Obasanjo’s criticisms by saying that given his track record, the former president would unavoidably stop at nothing to criticize Buhari personally.
The presidential spokesman claims that Obasanjo, who is infamous for being envious, attacks anyone who surpasses him in the country’s development process.
The political gladiators, including the candidates for the APC and PDP, Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Atiku Abubakar, respectively, had a variety of reactions to the news that Obasanjo had used his new year’s message to Nigerians, especially youths, to support Obi’s candidacy.
According to Shehu, Chief Obasanjo is far behind President Buhari in every area of national development, which is seen as a cardinal sin by Obasanjo, who believes he is the only person capable of leading Nigeria and that there will never be anyone better than him.
Shehu also recalled that after three decades of broken promises, President Buhari recently finished the Second Niger Bridge, a structure of the highest caliber. It is now being prepared for use.
He claimed that during his first term as president, Obasanjo started work on the bridge but never finished it.
Shehu also made fun of the former president, pointing out that when Obasanjo ran for re-election for a second term, he went back to the construction site to turn the sod for the bridge a second time.
In full view of the Chiefs and Oracles in his palace, Obasanjo told the foremost traditional ruler of the Southeast that he was a liar when the Obi of Onitsha boldly reminded him that he had done this in the past, according to the presidential spokesman.
He emphasized that the incumbent president, Buhari, lost their votes but mustered the courage to build the bridge because he believed it was the right thing to do. He accused Obasanjo of deceiving the Southeast in order to secure their votes.
While defending his principal, Shehu claimed that Buhari had recently been recognized for doing what the Federal Republic of Nigeria’s Constitution requires of a leader: serve one or a maximum of two terms.
He claimed that Buhari has been emphasizing his intention to oversee an election that is more successful than the one that elected him and to step down when the time comes.
Because tenure elongation was unsuccessful, Obasanjo’s imaginary mind must be telling him that he is the target of the attack.
The presidency claims that Obasanjo is “not on President Buhari’s radar” because third terms or tenure elongation “is a recipe for political instability,” especially recently in West Africa where there have been at least three successful coups and numerous other failed attempts.
