By Pascal Oparada
Nigerians from all works of life are reacting to the choice of Peter Obi as the presidential running mate to Atiku Abubakar. Atiku emerged the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate for the 2019 presidential elections on Sunday, October 7, 2018.
Varied reactions have trailed the choice of the erstwhile governor of Anambra. Social media is awash with comments, mostly positive about what many of them termed a deft move by Atiku.
The news has remained a top trend on Twitter gathering close 30,000 tweets at the time of filing this report. It is also a top discourse on Facebook.
Senator representing Bayelsa East, Ben Murray-Bruce tweeted, congratulating Peter Obi on his emergence as Atiku’s running mate. The Senator said that Atiku and Obi are a solid team ‘that will lift Nigeria to her rightful place amongst the assembly of nations.
“Congrats my friend and brother, Mr. Peter Obi on your selection as the vice presidential candidate to H.E @atiku. Without a doubt, this is a solid team that will lift Nigeria to her rightly place amongst the assembly of nations,” Murray-Bruce tweeted.
Activist and a Buhari critic, Deji Adeyanjun congratulated Obi and the South Easterners.
In another tweet, Adeyanju said the former Anambra governor may have people who don’t like and therefore, may try to scuttle his ambition.
“I have seen some of your comments suggesting Peter Obi from South East as VP to Atiku. The only problem here is that Obi has too many enemies in the SE including his state, Anambra. APGA as a political party & his governor will spend any amount of money to work against him,” Adeyanju said.
Publisher of Ovation magazine and Boss newspaper, Dele Momodu congratulated Obi for his emergence. He also congratulated Atiku and wished them luck.
Estate Surveyor and Valuer, Wilson Shadrach, said he never knew Nigerians would be this happy and united over Atiku’s choice of Obi as the running mate.
“Never knew Nigerians could be this happy and united as well. Everyone on this app irrespective of tribe or religion seems excited about the Atiku / Peter Obi @OfficialPDPNig ticket,” he said in a tweet.
PDP governorship candidate in the last Anambra election and Obi’s protege, Oseloka Obaze said Nigerians’ prayers have been answered. He said the ex-vice president has made a good choice by picking Obi.
“#Nigeria- prayer answered is answered. HE VP @Atiku Abubakar has made the right choice in picking Peter Obi as his running mate. Atiku has just exhibited the ability to make hard-headed decision required of purposeful leaders. Let’s get Nigeria working again. God bless Atiku,” Obaze said.
Obaze had in an earlier tweet said many people from the South East are qualified for the job of Vice President but Obi is top of the bunch. He listed Obi’s qualities like experience, youth, a global worldview, frugality, economic management, and acceptability.
Brand analyst and social commentator, Azuka Onwuka, said in a Facebook post that Atiku’s move is a deft one. He said since emerging as the flag-bearer of PDP, the former vice president has been springing one surprise after another. He wondered what next he might do.
“Since Sunday when PDP elected him, he has tried to be in the news every day with one event or the other. Today is the choice of Peter as the running mate. Yesterday was OBJ’s endorsement. What will it be tomorrow?
“The choice of Obi is fantastic. Congrats to both of them. 2019 campaign will be explosive.” Onwuka said.
The emergence of Obi has caused a big divide among some ethnic groupings in Nigeria as some allege that the race for the vice presidential slot has taken an ethnic hue as many believe that the incumbent vice president, Professor Yemi Osinbajo’s chance of clinching the presidency in 2023 would be scuttled should Atiku emerge President in next year’s election.
Whichever way it goes, the mood in the air in most of Nigeria is that of jubilation.
