2023: Peter Obi, Finally, To Run For Presidential Office

By Adesina Soyooye

One of Nigeria’s favorite Politicians, and a darling of youths, Peter Obi, has caved in to the pressure on him to run for the office of the President in 2023.

The pressure on, and yearning for Obi  have been unprecedented. One group was set to sue him to Court for not throwing his hat into the ring. Another said it would pay for the purchase of the Presidential  nomination form for him. Another had pledged, for a start, to raise the sum of 10 billion Naira for him to execute the election. And yet, another said the group would mobilise 40 million youths in his favour.

For all the pressure, Obi  remained calm and calculative. The only inkling he gave a couple of months ago was that he would wait for his Party, the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, to zone its Presidential seat. He had said he would make a statement if the Party zones it to the South.

That has not been done. However, this magazine can confirm that Obi is all set to cave in to the pressure on him. He will run for the office of the President as plans have reached advanced stages for his declaration.

An economist, banker, a financial expert and a multiple award winner, Obi was the Vice Presidential candidate of the PDP during the 2019 Presidential election. He was on same ticket with former Vice President Atiku Abubakar who was the Presidential candidate. The two are running separately now, as Atiku, on Wednesday, March 23, 2022, declared his Presidential ambition in Abuja for the fifth time. Obi was absent at the ceremony which was, surprisingly attended by a number of political heavyweights from the South, and especially, Obi’s South-east, a Zone which said it is seriously canvassing for a President of South-East extraction for justice and equity. Those of them who attended, all spoke against the zoning of the office of the President. The South-east is the only Zone which has not produced a President for Nigeria.

When Obi eventually declares, he would be running against a crowded PDP field which include: Former Senate President, Anyim Pius Anyim, the first Igbo man who had the courage to declare interest months ago, another former Senate President, Bukola Saraki, Sokoto State Governor, Aminu Tambuwal, Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, Pharmacist and entrepreneur, Sam Ohuabunwa, and others still being awaited, including, allegedly, Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike.

At a meeting of South-south political stakeholders held in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State two days ago,  Wike strongly urged the PDP to zone its Presidential seat to the South-south, describing the Zone as the pillar of the PDP.