In a four-page letter, Obasanjo praised Peter Obi and warned Nigerian youngsters against adopting the Emi lokan leadership mindset. The former Nigerian leader also cautioned the country’s youth about the qualities they should seek in a candidate for the upcoming elections, referring to the current state of affairs as a “frying pan to fire.”
“No one of the contestants is a saint but when one compares their character, antecedent, their understanding, knowledge, discipline and vitality that they can bring to bear and the great efforts required to stay focused on the job, particularly looking at where the country is today and with the experience on the job that I personally had, Peter Obi a great candidate,” said Obasanjo in his open letter on January 1, 2023, titled “My Appeal to all Nigerians particularly young Nigerians.”
The former president Olusegun Obasanjo has been praised by the Professor Utomi-led Big Tent Coalition of political parties and civil society organizations for “standing up for the Nigerian youth and majority of long-suffering Nigerians by his decisive action to endorse Peter Obi, Presidential candidate of the Labour Party.” President Obasanjo’s “unambiguous endorsement of Peter Obi as the most credible and qualified presidential candidate for the February 2023 election is a further affirmation of the popular views of majority of registered voters as reflected in five independent polls conducted by four credible pollster organizations, which results overwhelming,” according to a statement signed by Charles Odibo, Director of Media and Communications for Big Tent Coalition for ObiDatti.