2023 Presidential Election: I’m proud of Peter Obi — Anyim

Senator Anyim Pius Anyim

Former Senate President, Anyim Pius Anyim, has extolled the virtues of Mr. Peter Obi, the Labour Party presidential candidate, who he said has done what he (Anyim) could not do.

The former Senate President made this known while reacting to a front page story published in Thisday newspaper of February 17, 2023 titled, ‘How G5 Governors, Other PDP Leaders Stand On Presidential Choice’

According to the ThisDay’s report, Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike, the self-styled leader of the G-5 governors, along with a former governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose, who though is suspended by the PDP, may have elected to back the candidacy of former Lagos State governor, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress for the highest office in the land, Anyim however in the report, was said to have enlisted his support for Mr. Peter Obi of the Labour Party.

Anyim who however said he was at no time part of the G5 Governors and or leaders, explained that he is sufficiently knowledgeable about the turn of events leading to and after the PDP Presidential primaries thus has his own convictions on why he should not, in any way, be part of the G5 Governors and Leaders.

He however praised the LP presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi, on becoming a factor in the political equation of 2023 presidential election, after pulling out of the PDP following the disagreement on zoning by the party. 

“I must state here and always that I am proud of His Excellency Peter Obi for doing what I couldn’t do,” Anyim said.

Below is the full text of Anyim’s press statement 

RE: HOW G5 GOVERNORS, OTHER PDP LEADERS STAND ON PRESIDENTIAL CHOICE – THISDAY NEWSPAPER 17/02/2023

My attention had been drawn to a front page story in Thisday Newspaper of 17/02/2023 with the above caption. I want to state upfront that at no time was I part of the G5 Governors and or leaders.

I am sufficiently knowledgeable about the turn of events leading to and after the PDP Presidential primaries and have my own convictions why I should not, in any way, be part of the G5 Governors and Leaders.

I want to state very clearly that after the Presidential Primaries, I chose to remain in PDP as a leader and responsible citizen of Nigeria, who should and indeed do place Nigeria over and above my personal interest. I must confess that this decision was reinforced by my experience from working with President Goodluck Jonathan. It may be necessary to state that since after the PDP Presidential Primaries, I have remained a faithful member of my party, the PDP and have no intention whatsoever to leave my party, moreso as one of my campaign credits during the primaries was that I have remained in the party since 1999 even when many others had moved out and back to the PDP many times.

On the issue of His Excellency Peter Obi, the Labour PartyPresidential Candidate, I am to say that I was in the PDP Presidential Primaries with Peter Obi and others and at some point, all of us from South East met and resolved to work together, to ensure the zoning of the presidential position to South East and that whoever among us that got the ticket should be supported by the others. 

When the zoning failed, His Excellency Peter Obi pulled out and joined Labour Party while I continued to the end. 

To the credit of His Excellency Peter Obi, today, he has become a factor in the political equation of 2023 presidential election. I must state here and always that I AM PROUD OF HIS EXCELLENCY PETER OBI FOR DOING WHAT I COULD NOT DO.

For me, His Excellency Peter Obi winning or not should not be the issue but rather his ability to bring Labour Party from nowhere to a position of reckoning is a huge contribution to our political development. He has broken an age long myth and should be seen as having immeasurably become a source of inspiration to the future generations of Nigerian politicians and indeed has taken his pride of place in the history of Nigerian politics. 

At this juncture, let me state, and I know many Nigerians believe so, that at this point whom God has destined to be the next president of Nigeria is already settled and no man can change it. It is, therefore, disheartening for people to make and impute assumptions on who anybody is supporting.

I am certain that I have at no time discussed with anybody about who will win and who will not win. That is the choice Nigerians will make. I have kept faith with my party and for the benefit of all, I am still a card-carrying member of the PDP. I am in a very healthy mental state to speak for myself at anytime and so nobody should speak for me.

Let me, for emphasis, state that the front-page story in Thisday Newspaper of 17th February, 2023 captioned “How G5 Governors, Other PDP Leaders stand on Presidential Choice....” has absolutely nothing to do with me.

—ANYIM PIUS ANYIM, GCON.
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