By Andrew Haruna | Abuja | Nigeria News Today
Former African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Dumebi Kachikwu, has alleged that former President Goodluck Jonathan offered ex-Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi the position of Coordinating Minister of the Economy if he agreed to withdraw from the 2027 presidential race and support Jonathan’s return bid.
Speaking at a press conference in Abuja on Friday, Kachikwu claimed that Northern political interests are backing Jonathan’s candidacy to weaken the South’s political influence.
“In order to weaken the South, they have now drafted in former President Jonathan into the race, who is alleged to be offering Peter Obi the position of Coordinating Minister of the Economy for him to support his ambition,” he alleged.
Kachikwu further alleged that Obi was told outrightly that he could not secure Northern votes due to his Igbo ethnicity.
Atiku, Northern Elites Accused of Entrenching Poverty
The former ADC candidate also accused former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and a select group of Northern elites of holding political power for decades without improving literacy or reducing poverty in the region.
He accused these elites of manipulating religion, ethnicity, and poverty to sway millions of Northern voters, painting Southern leaders, including President Bola Tinubu, as enemies.
“On a daily basis they are spreading deliberate falsehoods against not only President Tinubu but against all potential southern aspirants for the Office of President. A Peter Obi has been told in very clear terms that he will never get northern votes as an Ibo man and as such he should accept to be Atiku’s running mate,” Kachikwu said.
Call for Unity
Kachikwu urged Nigerians to reject divisive politics and unite for a more equitable nation.
“We don’t burn our houses because we want to kill rats and cockroaches; sometimes we just need to make our houses clean so that rats and cockroaches leave on their own,” he stated.
He concluded with a prayer that Nigeria would soon work for every citizen, regardless of tribe or religion.
