Dr. Wumi Akintide Says He Would Have Voted for Peter Obi

Former Assistant Secretary in the Nigeria Civil Service, Dr. Wumi Akintide, has said that he would have voted for Peter Obi instead of Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the 2023 presidential election.

Akintide made the remarks during a special edition of the online interview programme 90MinutesAfrica hosted by Rudolf Okonkwo on Sunday.

Akintide, who is a close confidant of the late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, said that he could not have voted for Tinubu, whom he described as a “total disaster.”

He said that even though he believed that Obi was the best candidate, he would not have been able to govern successfully with the current Nigerian constitution.

Akintide also said that the outstanding performance of the Labour Party candidate can also be attributed to the decision of the ruling party to field a Muslim–Muslim ticket. He believed that the action drove many southern Christians who would have otherwise voted for Tinubu to rebel against the APC and vote for Obi.

Akintide went on to say that Tinubu must do everything possible to alleviate the suffering being experienced by Nigerians to avoid degeneration into a situation akin to what is happening in the neighboring Niger Republic.

He said that although he believed the president was doing his best given the terrible situation he inherited from the previous government, he would need to do more to stabilize the nation as soon as possible.

Akintide also expressed fear that the current economic hardship in Nigeria occasioned by the removal of petrol subsidy is threatening the political stability of the country.

He said that he hopes that the five billion naira disbursed to each of the 36 states to cushion the economic hardship would not end up in the pockets of greedy officials.

Akintide also commented on the recent statements attributed to popular Lagos-based clergy, Pastor Tunde Bakare, criticizing the government of President Tinubu. He argued that Bakare’s statements reflect the penchant of Yoruba people to gang up against their kind.

Akintide’s remarks come at a time when the country is facing a number of challenges, including economic hardship, insecurity, and political instability. His comments are likely to add to the debate about the future of Nigeria.