A former presidential aide, Doyin Okupe, has made a startling accusation against Peter Obi, the 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate.
Okupe claims that Obi betrayed Atiku Abubakar, his counterpart from the Peoples Democratic Party, by running against him in 2023 despite Atiku bringing him to national prominence as his running mate in 2019, according to Daily Post.
Okupe denied betraying Obi and stated that he withdrew his support because he no longer wanted to work with him. He argued that Obi’s actions towards Atiku were unfair and that he was justified in switching his support.
In a surprising revelation, Okupe disclosed that Pa Ayo Adebanjo of Afenifere influenced his initial support for Obi. He explained that Adebanjo had suggested supporting a South-East candidate for the presidency, and after reviewing the options, they decided to back Obi.
This development has sparked a heated debate, with some people defending Obi’s right to pursue his presidential ambitions and others criticizing his perceived disloyalty to Atiku.
The situation highlights the complexities of political alliances and the challenges of navigating competing interests in Nigerian politics.
He said, “They said I betrayed Obi. No. How can I betray him? I started politics in 1978. Obi was nowhere else.
“Obi was the vice-presidential candidate of Atiku Abubakar in 2019. He brought him to the national limelight.
“Because of his own ambition, which was correct and due, Obi left the party and contested against Atiku. If people said I betrayed Obi, what did Obi do to Atiku? It is not fair.
“It is Obi’s interest in 2023 that made him go on a collision course against his former master. Obi was not my master; I was his supporter. If I supported him up to a point and decided to go back and be myself, how can that be an offence?”
Okupe also disclosed that Pa Ayo Adebanjo of Afenifere made him support Obi.
He said: “Baba asked which section of the South should be considered if the presidency was zoned to the region. I told Baba that it was only the South-East that has not produced a president.
“Baba said we should support the South-East for the presidency and I agreed. We reviewed the presidential candidates from that region and we concluded on supporting Obi. That was what happened.”
