Dele Momodu, a chieftain of the African Democratic Party (NDC), says Peter Obi rejected suggestions that he should serve as running mate to Atiku Abubakar because he believed he was more popular than the former vice-president.
Speaking in an interview with Symfoni Media, Momodu said he personally urged Obi to work with Atiku, saying that some political leaders rose to the highest office after serving as vice-president.
The media entrepreneur said he used the examples of Ghanaian president John Mahama, former Nigerian president Goodluck Jonathan and former US president Joe Biden to persuade Obi.
According to him, he maintained a close relationship with Atiku and felt an alliance between the two politicians would have been beneficial.
“I talked with him, and I said, ‘Your Excellency, try and work with this man (Atiku),’” Momodu said.
“I gave him copious examples. If Mahama was not a vice-president, maybe he would never have been president of Ghana.
“I gave the example of Jonathan. I even gave the example of America, where Joe Biden, who was much older than Obama, still came back to become president.”
Momodu said Obi was not convinced by the argument.
“Peter told me he is more popular than Atiku,” he said.
Asked if Obi actually made the remark, Momodu replied: “Yes, I swear to God. If you see him, ask him if I lied against him.”
Obi, who was the vice presidential candidate to Atiku in the 2019 presidential election, has consistently maintained that he must be on the ballot in 2027.
