I have the honour today to present to you, God willing, Nigeria’s next Vice President in the person of Senator Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed
By Eugene Onyeji
The presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi, told Nigerians on Friday that the choice and formal unveiling of Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed, has formally put the party in the right place to take back Nigeria and redeem it from the years of the locust.
The choice of Baba-Ahmed came in the wake of the negotiation between the camp of the former Governor of Kano State, Rabiu Kwankwaso, presidential candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), and the Labour Party (LP), for a merger, an effort, which fell apart over the disagreement on who would would step down and take the VP position.
Read Also: Why I’m in the race with Obi, Datti Baba-Ahmed explains
Doyin Okupe, who heads the campaign of the former Governor of Anambra State, has occupied the position, after his name was submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), as a stand-in to beat the deadline given by the commission.
Speaking at the unveiling of Baba-Ahmed, the founder of Baze University, Abuja, 24 hours after announcing him as his running mate, at the party’s secretariat in Abuja Obi said, the long search for a suitable candidate to deputise him, had proved worthwhile by the choice of the 46-year-old educationist and lawmaker, who represented Kaduna North at the Senate.
“It is good to be here today after weeks and months that we have gone round, consulted and searched around and looked for somebody who fits the bill of what we are trying to do.
“Today, I am proud to say I have been able to meet and secure somebody who is eminently qualified and fits the bill to be the Vice President of Nigeria.
“I know people will say you are not there yet, but I can tell you, I know where we are going. This is our right to secure, unite and make Nigeria productive. And you can’t do that without having people who have similar visions, ideas and are prepared for the task. So, I have the honour today to present to you, God willing, Nigeria’s next Vice President in the person of Senator Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed.”