By Nchetachi Chukwuajah
Datti Baba-Ahmed, the former running mate of Peter Obi under the Labour Party in the 2023 general elections, says his decision to accept the vice presidential slot was driven by sympathy for Obi and the state of the nation.
Baba-Ahmed noted that his political alliance with Obi was not because of ideological alignment, adding that the former Anambra State governor does not own him or his politics.
He said this during an interview with a media outlet, Symfoni, the video of which circulated on Wednesday, June 2.
Baba-Ahmed disclosed that Obi had approached three other prominent politicians to be his running mate before him, all of whom declined to partner with him.
He said out of compassion for both Obi and Nigeria, he stepped in as a “volunteer for the sake of Nigeria.”
The former vice presidential candidate said, “They thought I would follow Peter Obi. Now, people don’t understand that between me and Obi, there’s a great deal of sympathy. I have sympathy for him.”
He added, “When he approached three other major politicians in 2021, they avoided him. I would have been glad if, in 2022, one of them went with Peter Obi. But they all avoided him. I felt bad for him. I felt bad for Nigeria as a nation… I took it upon myself because, naturally, I’ve always been a volunteer for the sake of Nigeria. I extended that sympathy.”
Baba-Ahmed noted that there is a clear line between himself and his former running mate, adding that his support had limits and that Obi does not control his political future.
“They thought I would follow Peter Obi. But I had given enough sympathy there… With due respect, he does not own my politics. He does not own me. I am independent,” he stated.
On Obi’s defection from the Labour Party to the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and to the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) over internal crises within the party, Baba-Ahmed said internal challenges within the LP are not enough reason for Obi to leave the party.
The former senator stressed that Obi should have remained in the Labour Party to fix the party’s problems rather than defect, adding that internal crises are integral parts of political parties.
He said, “I mean, if (Julius) Abure was a problem, what makes him think the David Mark of ADC will not be a problem?
“What makes him think the chairman of Seriake (Senator Seriake Dickson) of NDC will not be a problem? So it’s the same thing wherever you go. Stay here and fix this problem. Now, let’s work together.
“And he decided to move. Now, with due respect, he does not own my politics. He does not own me. I am independent.”
