G5 near consensus as they brainstorm in London on taking back Nigeria
By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
Peter Obi may emerge the presidential candidate preferred by Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) G5 Governors currently brainstorming in London on how to take back Nigeria from dullocracy and lootocracy and hitch its wagon to genuine democracy.
Rivers Governor Nyesom Wike, G5 arrowhead and chief strategist, disclosed last week their preference will be announced in January 2023. The latest on the grapevine is that the announcement will be made on 5 January.
The choice of the G5, also called the Integrity Group, may be influenced by former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s advice that the Presidency be rotated to the South East in 2023 to ensure justice and equity, but based on competence.
Obasanjo supports Obi’s presidential run.
Other members of the G5 are Governors Seyi Makinde (Oyo), Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia), Samuel Ortom (Benue) and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu).
The larger Integrity Group comprises party grandees such as former PDP Deputy National Chairman Bode George who do not support Atiku Abubakar for President because he backs Iyorchia Ayu as National Chairman.
A credible source close to the G5 told The PUNCH the Governors may heed Obasanjo’s counsel and endorse Obi, presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP).
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Obasanjo lobbying G5 to pick Obi
Obasanjo met with the G5 in London in August where he reportedly lobbied them to throw their weight behind Obi.
“The Governors are considering Obasanjo’s advice that the Presidency should come to the South in 2023. Obasanjo has advised them to support Obi because he believes that if the Presidency comes to the South, it should go to the South East.
“That is why at their last meeting in London, he lobbied for Obi because justice and fairness demand that South East should produce the next president,’’ the source said, per The PUNCH.
“From all indications, the Governors will announce their preferred candidate next week. If there is no major event before January 5 when Makinde will kick off his campaign, they will make the announcement on that day in Ibadan.’’
No cracks in G5 ranks
An aide to a G5 member dismissed report the group is divided over which presidential candidate to endorse.
He said the Governors agreed at a meeting in London on Tuesday that since Atiku failed to prevail on Ayu to step down, they should work for a Southern candidate.
Are there cracks in the ranks of the G5? he was asked:
“Not really, but they have different approaches to the issue. Some of them have nothing against Atiku. But none of the Governors will come out to speak against the joint decision of the group that the Presidency should come to the South.
“If Ayu had stepped down, they would have supported Atiku.’’
But other sources said some in the G5 are thorn between supporting Obi and All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate Bola Tinubu.
The ambition of Ortom, who is running for Senate, and Makinde, who is seeking a second term in office, may hang in the balance because of their faceoff with Ayu.
Ortom has, however, openly declared several times his love and preference for Obi who he said could deliver Nigeria.