Obi not a threat, he lacks structures to win Presidency – Atiku

The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, has dismissed any threat from the Peter Obi’s Labour Party (LP).

Atiku said the party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi, does not have a structure to make any meaningful impact in the general election.

He, however, admitted that the LP would take insignificant votes from the PDP come 2023 presidential election.

He said: “It is difficult to expect any miracle on the LP and Peter Obi.

“I don’t think LP will take much votes from PDP. The party has no structure. They don’t have a governor, senator or LG chairman. It is difficult to expect a miracle that will make LP win.

“Although during the Osun State election they said they have one million votes via social media but what have they got in the election.”

He acknowledged that he missed his former ally Peter Obi but said Obi did not consult with him before joining the Labour Party, hence he wished him well.

The former vice president also denied rejecting the report of his committee that chose Governor Nyesom Wike as vice presidential candidate for the PDP, saying the committee only recommended but did not vote to decide on the VP.

He said: “There was no voting. I can give you the copy of the report of the committee. It is my prerogative to choose who I think is the best for me to work with as my VP. And I have consistently been picking Igbo to unify the country.”

Atiku asserted that the party did not agree to microzone its presidential candidacy to any geopolitical zone, insisting that they would soon resolve their internal problems

He said his running mate, Ifeanyi Okowa, has acquired a lot of experience due to his political astuteness starting from local government to senate and becoming a governor.

Speaking on Arise TV on Thursday, Atiku said the Police are grossly inadequate to properly address the security challenge in the country with over 200 million people.

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“We have less than 300,000 policemen on the streets. We need to recruit more into the force. We need also to review our constitutions to accommodate state police. I am a supporter of state police,” he added.

The leading opposition candidate said if Nigerians elect him he would devolve power to states and focus on agriculture to reposition the country and take out Nigerians from poverty, adding “I will want to have a lean Federal Government.”

He challenged people that accused him of corruption to bring any substantial proof of corruption against him, insisting that he had been in business for ages even when he was working with Nigeria Customs Service.

Speaking on his relationship with his erstwhile principal, Olusegun Obasanjo, the PDP candidate said he still needs the support of Obasanjo in his presidential candidature.

“I need his support because he was my former boss. I deserve his support because I will build on his legacies. And I assume I have it,” he stated.

The Star