Senator Dino Melaye, a former congressman from Kogi Central, asserted that Atiku Abubakar, the PDP’s presidential candidate, elevated Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s (LP) presidential candidate, to a national figure.
Melaye asserted that when he chose Obi as his running mate in the 2019 presidential race, the former vice president found him and gave him a national following.
He made this statement at the Diamond Ladies in Politics’ induction event and public endorsement of Atiku on Saturday night in Abuja, the nation’s capital.
The former lawmaker characterized the PDP presidential contender as a talent scout, claiming that Atiku recognized the former governor of Anambra before his online supporters did.
He said: “Obi is a fantastic Nigerian but he was not known nationally until Atiku identified him. Atiku is a talent hunter. Everyone who was a reformer in this country between 1999 and to date was a discovery of Atiku.
“Atiku discovered Obi before keyboard warriors discovered Obi. Unfortunately, elections are not going to take place on social media.
“It is going to take place at the polling units. And those that would vote are the people here. So it is now operation votes must count.”
Diamond Ladies in Politics convener Maimunat Wada promised to mobilize at least two million votes for PDP in the presidential election.
She said: “With Atiku Abubakar on the saddle of leadership of the country, there would be inclusiveness of Nigerians irrespective of their tribal and religious affiliations.
“Atiku’s choice of his running mate, His Excellency Dr Ifeanyi Okowa, his array of business partners, investments spread across the country and even the ethnic backgrounds of his spouses are clear testimony that he would be a true Nigerian president.”
