Former Labour Party vice-presidential candidate, Senator Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed, has disclosed that he personally advised Peter Obi to work with former Kano State governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso long before discussions about a political alliance between both men gained public attention.
Speaking during an interview on Symfoni TV’s Niger Unfiltered, Datti said he encouraged Obi to build broader political partnerships as part of efforts to strengthen the opposition ahead of future elections.
According to him, the conversation took place in January 2024, shortly after the 2023 presidential election.
“I tracked him and asked him, ‘What is your plan going forward?’ When I didn’t get a clear plan, I said, ‘If you don’t have a plan, sir, work with Kwankwaso,’” Datti revealed.
The former vice-presidential candidate explained that his recommendation was informed by his belief that defeating the ruling APC would require long-term organisation, coalition-building and strategic planning.
He argued that President Bola Tinubu’s rise to power was not accidental but the result of years of political organisation.
“Tinubu organised for 16 years. You cannot be planning from day to day or week to week,” he said.
Datti disclosed that even after disagreements emerged within the Labour Party, he continued supporting Obi politically and remained committed to helping him navigate the country’s complex political landscape.
According to him, he was among those who encouraged Obi to seek alliances capable of expanding his political reach beyond the support base that emerged during the 2023 election.
However, Datti expressed reservations about some of the decisions that followed, suggesting that Obi failed to address internal challenges within the Labour Party before pursuing new political arrangements.
He argued that political leaders should focus on building and strengthening institutions rather than moving from one platform to another whenever disputes arise.
“If Abure was a problem, what makes you think another chairman somewhere else will not become a problem? Stay and fix the problem,” he said.
Despite the criticism, Datti insisted that his relationship with Obi remains cordial and respectful.
He described the former Anambra State governor as a good man who still possesses the qualities required to lead the country.
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