2023: Peter Obi should be lobbied to return to PDP as running mate to Atiku —Onyeagocha

A former Secretary to the Government of Imo State, Hon. Uche Onyeagocha has called on stakeholders, especially the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to lobby Peter Obi back to the party to stand as a running mate to Atiku Abubakar.

The former House of Reps member made the call on Friday during an interview on Arise Tv.

In response to a question about the zoning of the Vice-Presidential post, the lawmaker frowned on Peter Obi’s exit, while urging stakeholders to lure the former Anambra governor back into the fold.

Obi, who left the PDP last week, is now the presidential candidate of the Labour Party.

Onyeagocha said, “I think the PDP should allow the Vice-President to come from the South-East and there are many qualified people. Emeka Ihedioha is qualified to hold that position. I think Peter Obi should be encouraged to come back to the PDP; I don’t agree with his move to Labour Party. He should be encouraged to accept the role. Okonjo-Iweala should be encouraged to leave the World Trade Organisation and be the Vice President. It should be thrown open to every other person who can contribute since the economy is in a very big mess.”

The lawmaker also cautioned South-East stakeholders to quit lamenting the emergence of Atiku Abubakar as the presidential candidate due to their laxity.

Read also :Peter Obi clinches Labour Party presidential ticket

“Politics isn’t dynamic exercise. Sometimes, you plot a different thing and different results. It is high time they stop lamenting about the South-East votes and work hard for votes from other regions. They should not have focused on the South-East votes only; being a highly competitive exercise.”

Regarding the praise showered on the Sokoto State Governor, Aminu Tambuwal by the PDP Chairman, Iyiorcha Ayu, the lawmaker said, “The PDP is not fragmented. It is about alliance with a stronger candidate regarding the actions of Tambuwal in the victory of Atiku. For example, Delta State didn’t vote for Wike; it is a matter of lobbying across the board. What Ayu was saying is to appreciate the fact that he traded in his interest and made it easy for the party to continue without any squabble.”

Tambuwal had announced stepping down at the presidential primary and said he did so for Atiku, a development that saw the former vice-president poll 371 votes to defeat his closest rival, Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State with 237 votes.

On his visit to Tambuwal after the event, Ayu who first embraced the Sokoto governor warmly and later shook hands with him first referred to him as “my chairman”, but Tambuwal jocularly retorted, smiling: “I’m a small chairman, sir.’

Ayu then shook hands with him again and said, “You are the hero of the convention”, a remark to which Tambuwal replied: “Thank you, sir.”

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