Dr Katch Ononuju, Director-General of the Heritage Centre, has recalled how Peter Obi initially rejected the idea of contesting the 2023 presidential election against Atiku Abubakar.
Speaking during an interview on SYMFONI TV, Ononuju said the major challenge facing the opposition before the 2023 election was division among political leaders. He explained that after former President Muhammadu Buhari completed eight years in office, he believed the presidency should move to the South as part of national balance.
Ononuju said he disagreed with Atiku after the former vice president decided to contest the presidency despite arguments that power should shift to the South. He added that he became one of the voices calling for a different political direction and later joined efforts that led to the rise of the Obidient movement.
According to him, when he and others first approached Peter Obi about contesting the election, Obi was not willing to challenge Atiku because of the respect he had for him.
He said Obi viewed Atiku as his political superior and did not want to go against him, but after several discussions and pressure from supporters, Obi eventually agreed to run.
Ononuju said he respected Obi’s decision because it showed his loyalty and respect for Atiku, but he personally believed that his region deserved fair representation in the presidency.
In his words, “The first time I met Obi, Obi refused to run against Atiku. It was when now we made all the pushing that Obi finally agreed. And I respected him because he had strong regard and respect for Atiku. He was calling him my boss, my principal, he said, ‘No I will not go against my principal…See_More
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