Former Goodluck Jonathan aide Reno Omokri, a fervent admirer of Atiku Abubakar, the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, has claimed that Olusegun Obasanjo always desired a president from the South-East.

On Sunday night, Omokri turned to Twitter to comment on the former president’s selection of Peter Obi, the presidential candidate for the Labour Party, as his preferred candidate for the position of president.

Obasanjo, according to Omokri, is a good-hearted man who wants a president from the Southeast to help heal the wounds left by the 1967–1970 civil war.

Omokri tweeted, “Obasanjo is a good hearted man. He has always wanted a president from SE or close to SE as a way to heal the civil war wounds. In 2007, he wanted Peter Odili, but Yar’adua insisted on Governor Jonathan as VP.”

He however added, “What OBJ did won’t affect the election!”

In the 2023 New Year message signed by the former President and made available to newsmen by his aide, Kehinde Akinyemi, Obasanjo described Obi as his mentee and said the former Anambra State governor had an edge in the 2023 elections.

Obasanjo’s letter partly read, “None of the contestants is a saint but when one compares their character, antecedent, their understanding, knowledge, discipline, and vitality that they can bring to bear and the great efforts required to stay focused on the job, particularly looking at where the country is today and with the experience on the job that I personally had, Peter Obi as a mentee has an edge.

“Others like all of us have what they can collectively contribute to the new dispensation to liberation, restoration and salvaging of Nigeria.

“One other important point to make about Peter is that he is a needle with thread attached to it from North and South and he may not get lost.

“In other words, he has people who can pull his ears, if and when necessary. He has a young and able running mate with a clean track record of achievement both in public and private life.”

The ruling All Progressives Party and opposition Peoples Democratic Party have strongly protested against Obasanjo’s endorsement of Obi, who assumed power as President under the PDP.

According to news reports, both the APC and PDP asserted that Obasanjo’s endorsement of Obi would not matter electorally in the upcoming elections.

Responding to Obasanjo’s lengthy message, the Director, Media and Publicity, APC Presidential Campaign Council, Bayo Onanuga, said Tinubu, would not lose sleep over the endorsement of his Labour Party counterpart by the former president.

While in a telephone conversation with The PUNCH, the National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Debo Ologunagba said, “What is important is the endorsement of the Nigerian people. The endorsement of an individual no matter how highly placed does not translate to victory at the polls.