Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia
Former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir Lawal, has said that Nigerians would migrate to Cameroon and other countries in droves should Peter Obi of the Labour Party lose the 2023 presidential poll.
The All Progressivse Congress, APC, Board of Trustee, BoT, member who stated this on Monday at an interactive session between Obi and North-Eastern stakeholders in Abuja, declared that the 2023 presidential poll “is a must-win for Peter Obi considering the current mood of the country.”
He noted that although he was a member of the ruling APC, he decided to mobilise support for Obi based on his antecedents and competence, adding that he is the most qualified of all those jostling for the presidential seat in 2023.
“We want (Obi) to win this election and must win this election. If we lose this election, we’ll all migrate to Cameroon because of the shame and disgrace of failure to win. It is not about whether we have options, Peter Obi must win this election.
“Nigerians are yearning for change and people are determined that this time around the change that we have been yearning for will come.
“Fortunately, we have a competent person in Peter and his running mate. We need an arrowhead to drive this change and these two provide it.”
The former SGF who has not hidden his opposition against Muslim-Muslim ticket, urged Nigerians not to vote for APC and PDP presidential candidates.
“I am not interested in LP as a party. I am interested in Peter Obi as a potential presidential candidate. It doesn’t matter which party Peter Obi is, I sense that Nigerians are due for change.
“They have been yearning for change; my own opinion is that Nigeria will vote for anybody as long as he is not part of the PDP or APC.”
Lawal said he remained an APC BoT member but would continue to support Peter Obi, daring the ruling party to sack him.
“I am in APC and a member of the Board of Trustees of the party, but I am doing the Peter Obi/Yusuf Datti Movement.
“The APC has not sacked me yet. I don’t know what they are waiting for.
Speaking earlier, convener of the stakeholders meeting, Isaac Balami, said that the interactive session was aimed at mobilizing the grassroots in North-East for Obi/Datti and ensuring their victory come February 25, 2023.
“Our meeting here is to meet on how to ensure victory for Obi/Datti,” he said.
The stakeholders affirmed their support for Obi/Datti candidacy which they described as the only hope for Nigeria.
