An aide to former Vice President Atiku Abubarkar, Dele Momodu has warned supporters of former presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Mr Peter Obi to desist from calling him ‘best of us’ describing it as an insult to other members of the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
Momodu expressed disapproval of what he called the strategy of Obi supporters called the Obidients, who insist he must emerge the ADC presidential candidate for the 2027 election.
Momodu, who spoke on Channels Television Thursday, was reacting to comments by key Obi allies – rights activist Aisha Yesufu and economist Prof Pat Utomi – who, had warned that their support could be withdrawn if Obi is not given the ADC presidential ticket.
The presidential primaries come up in a few months’ time and Obi who recently defected to the ADC is expected to square up against Atiku, who is the leading contender for the ticket, among others.
While it is believed that it is the turn of the South to produce the next president even if President Tinubu would not be reelected, Atiku has consistently distanced himself from what has become an unwritten rotational presidency.
The former vice president contested the 2023 presidential election after the late former president, Muhammadu Buhari completed eight years of two terms.
The Obidients have vowed that their support for the ADC hinges on Obi’s candidacy.
Front line Obi campaigners like Yesufu had argued that Obi is “the best” among the political figures in the ADC and should not “play second fiddle” to anyone in the coalition.
Utomi similarly continues to echo that position which has driven Atiku supporters to anger with Momodu warning that such a position is not only divisive but weakens the ADC.
“When I talked about people being rambunctious, I read stories where someone was quoted as saying, ‘Why will the best of us always be playing second fiddle to the worst of us?’” Momodu said, then asked, “What determines who is the worst of us?”
While describing such language as insulting, he said, “Today, if you ask me, in ADC, there are prominent potential candidates. Number one on the list as of today is Alhaji Atiku Abubakar because he was a vice president, he has played at the highest level for eight years. “
Recalling Atiku’s long political history, Momodu, who is the publisher of Ovation Magazine explained, “He (Atiku) started contesting for the presidency in 1993, when he stepped down for Chief MKO Abiola in Jos. “
He acknowledged aside from Atiku, there are other figures in the coalition, like former Rivers State governor and minister, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, and former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai saying, “The next person will be Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, who has been Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly for eight years.
“He’s been governor for eight years, he’s been minister for years. Then, we got to Peter Obi, who has been a governor of Anambra State for two terms,” Momodu said.
The former spokesman for the Atiku presidential campaign further noted, “There are other people, if you look towards the North, you have Malam Nasir El-Rufai, a man, whose brain is so fertile. I respect his brain so much and he is a brain box for our party.
“So, I don’t know where people got the idea of the worst of us,” Momodu queried.
He rejected any suggestion that Atiku could be regarded as “the worst” among the aspirants asserting, “Atiku certainly cannot be the worst of us. He left power in 2007, he has been building his businesses, and God has blessed him with good health.”
On Utomi’s threat to withdraw support if Obi is not chosen as the party’s candidate, Momodu said, “That cannot be a threat. You cannot threaten other potential candidates,” he said emphasising the nature of the coalition, “We need the cooperation of everybody. That is why we call it a coalition. It is not a one-man thing, and Nigeria does not recognise independent candidacy.”
While acknowledging Obi’s popularity, Momodu warned against elevating one figure above others describing Obi as “a fantastic guy, a phenomenon,” but “to say he is the best of all of them where you have the Atikus and the Amaechis is an insult to the rest of them.”