The presidential flagbearer of the New Nigeria People’s Party, NNPP, Rabiu Kwankwaso, has said that the South East region will not accept Mr. Peter Obi to be his Vice-Presidential candidate for the 2023 election.
Kwankwaso disclosed this on Saturday while speaking to the press after he inaugurated the Gombe State office of the NNPP.
Recall that Peter Obi is the presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) who enjoys massive followership from youths across Nigeria.
See Also: Obi Would Have Been My Presidential Running Mate – Kwankwaso
Speaking on why he will not become the running mate of Peter Obi, Kwankwanso said that the NNPP stand a chance of collapsing if he forms the merger.
He further described the chance of Peter Obi becoming his running mate as a golden opportunity which the South East should not miss.
Kwankwaso said, “From the discussion with the Labour Party, the main issue was who becomes the president if the parties merge,” Premium Times quoted him as saying.
“At the end of the day, some of our representatives thought that there should be a criteria in terms of age, qualification, offices held, performance and so on,” the NNPP candidate said.
“Of course the other side wouldn’t want that. Most of the people from there believe that the presidency has to go there. If I decide to be a vice presidential candidate for anybody in this country; NNPP will collapse, because the party is based on what we have built in the last 30 years.
“I served for 17 years as a civil servant; we are talking of 47 years of very serious hard work that is what is rarely holding NNPP now.
“Even if my friend [Peter Obi] wants to accept the vice-presidential candidate, some people in the south-east will not accept, that is not strategic.
“This is a golden opportunity, if they lose it, it will be a disaster.”
Source: Cable