Ezekiel Awojide, Abuja
The 2023 Presidential candidate of the Labour Party and a member of the African Democratic Congress, Mr Peter Obi, on Monday led top Igbo leaders to the Maitiama, Abuja home of former President Goodluck Jonathan.
The meeting, which lasted for about two hours, was attended by some South East leaders, including former Enugu State governor, Dr Okwesilize Nwodo; his Imo State counterpart, Chief Achike Udenwa, former Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Chief Onyema Ugochukwu, Senators Ben Obi and Victor Umeh, among others.
Obi, who spoke to journalists after the meeting, disclosed that it was in continuation of consultations with former national leaders in the country regarding his presidential ambition.
The former Labour Party candidate, who is seeking the ticket of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) for the 2027 Presidential election said he was at the meeting for consultations and exchange of ideas.
Obi explained that the meeting was part of his consultations with former leaders.
“We need to consult them, especially someone like him (Jonathan) who served the country very faithfully, focused, and did what is expected in a democracy. In this declining situation, you consult him,” he said.
Obi had earlier visited former President Olusegun Obasanjo and the self-styled Evil Genius, Gen Ibrahim Babangida, among others, as part of his engagements with former Nigerian leaders.
He refused to disclose in detail, the outcome of the meeting, but added that Jonathan wished the country well.
He said, “He (Jonathan) wished that we had a free, fair, credible election.
“There can’t be a one-party system. He cannot support such a thing. Nobody can claim to be more of a democrat in this country than Jonathan.”
He, however, stated that the former president has not endorsed him for president in 2027 because he (Obi) did not come for that.
“We’re not talking about an endorsement yet. When I become a candidate, I’ll come back for endorsement. He wishes the country well. We are here to consult with him,” he added.
