Olusegun Obasanjo, the former president, is “totally” supporting Peter Obi’s presidential campaign in 2023, according to Akin Osuntokun, the recently appointed Director General (DG) of the Labour Party’s (LP) Presidential Campaign Council (PCC).
The aforementioned assertion was made by Osuntokun during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today in response to a question concerning Obasanjo’s involvement in the Obi/Datti campaign.
Speaking about his good relationship with the former president and Okupe, Osuntokun remarked, “He is a father figure. That’s a better description of the relationship. He’s a father figure to us, not an ‘ally.’ Assuming that what you are saying is correct, am I not qualified for the job? Am I not competent for it?”
When asked if the former president’s endorsement had any part in his nomination, Osuntokun responded, “You’ll have to ask the presidential candidate, my principal, whether it was an Obasanjo slot and that was how the position was filled.
“Don’t forget that I was the immediate zonal coordinator of the campaign in South-West, so this is essentially an elevation. It is not that I’m just joining the campaign organisation, but if you say that it’s Obasanjo’s slot, people have different perceptions and you’re at liberty to say so.”
The campaign director general stated that what matters most is what he brings to the table, not who made the decision to select him.
“Forget about who recommended me or whether I’m filling the slot of somebody. That is not an issue. It’s my capacity and competence to do the job that matters most. If Obasanjo recommends a very competent person who will lead the party to victory, why should I have any issues with that. For me, it’s a non-issue,” he said.
