Former President Olusegun Obasanjo says he is not part of any alleged collusion over the 2023 general elections in Nigeria.
Obasanjo spoke through his media aide, Kehinde Akinyemi, in Abeokuta, Ogun State, on Thursday, January 12, 2023.
Akinyemi said the former president was not responsible for the viral stories on some discredited platforms on the forthcoming general elections in Nigeria.
In a statement titled “Rigging claim, letter to Britain: Obasanjo not responsible – Aide,” Akinyemi maintained that the “viral trending story on the alleged plan by the former president to collude with the electoral body in the presidential election of February 25 is completely false.”
He said apart from the open letter dated January 1, 2023, and the one addressed to the renowned historian, Prof. Toyin Falola, on his 70th birthday, there had been no other public or private letter written to anybody by the former president.
Labour Party Welcomes Obasanjo’s Endorsement, Calls On Other Statesmen To Follow Suit
The Presidential Campaign Council of the Labour Party, LP, has welcomed the endorsement of its candidate, Peter Obi, and his running mate, Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed, by former President Olusegun Obasanjo.
It said Obasanjo has as always proved himself as a unique individual who truly cares about Nigeria’s well-being now and in the future.
Yunusa Tanko, the chief Spokesman for the LP PCC, said this in an interview with journalists, in Abuja, on Sunday, January 1, 2023.
He said, “What former President Olusegun Obasanjo has just done is what we expect of true Nigerian statesmen.
“We want to thank Chief Obasanjo for speaking up in favour of one United Nigeria where every citizen irrespective of ethnicity, the religion of political affiliation will be given a sense of belonging.
“A Nigeria where competence, track record of achievement, and patriotism will play a pivotal role in the leadership recruitment process.
“We are happy to confirm that these qualities exist in the persons of our candidate, Peter Obi and his running mate Yusuf Datti-Ahmed.
“We urge other statesmen to take a cue from Chief Obasanjo by endorsing our candidate and urging other contestants to see beyond themselves by sacrificing for Nigeria’s future which Obi-Datti represent.”
Doyin Okupe Resigns As Labour Party Presidential Campaign DG
Doyin Okupe, the director general of the Labour Party Presidential Campaign, has resigned.
His decision is to enable him pursue his corruption case in the ourt.
He conveyed his decision in a letter to his principal, the Presidential Candidate of the party, Mr. Peter Obi.
Recall that Okupe, on Monday, December 19, 2022, was found guilty of receiving over N200 million cash from former National Security Adviser (NSA) Sambo Dasuki by Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu of a Federal High Court in Abuja.
Justice Ojukwu held that the action of Okupe, who is the first defendant in the suit filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, violated the Money Laundering Act.
While stating that the Act provides that no individual or organization shall receive any sum above N5 million and N10 million respectively without passing through a financial institution, the judge held that “there is no evidence that the money passed through a financial institution”.
The court consequently held that the first defendant, Dr Okupe was guilty in counts 34, 35, 36, and 59.
Reacting to the judgement earlier through its Media Officer, Diran Onifade, the Labour Party Presidential Campaign Council, PCC, confirmed that Okupe had paid N13 million fine handed to him by the court.
He said as the party that respects the rule of law, its officials will obey court judgments promptly.
Onifade, however, said appealing the judgment is a personal decision Okupe and that the PCC cannot influence that.
Meanwhile, there have been speculations that the Labour Party may consider a replacement for Okupe as the Director-General of its 2023 Presidential Campaign Council.
A party source, on Monday, confirmed that talks were ongoing to replace Okupe.
According to report, the decision will be jointly taken by all concerned including Okupe himself.
Although the source declined to mention possible replacements, there are feelers that a former presidential aide, Akin Oshuntokun, and the serving deputy campaign manager, Isaac Balami have been tipped to replace Okupe.
