The former Governor of Anambra State, Mr. Peter Obi has been appointed the Deputy National Director General of Jonathan’s campaign team.
What’s more? As the second in command, he is in charge of South-East, South-South and South- West.
The news was made public in the 9 pm network news of Nigeria Television Authority [NTA].
This is coming on the heels of the former Governors sudden defection from the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), a party staunchly rooted in the South East, to the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in October.
Although many analyst and political observers saw Obi’s defection as preparing himself for a plum Job with President Jonathan, Mr. Peter Obi maintained that his former party has been made into “an empty shell without an inner core of shared values” hence his reason for defection.
The former Governor said he had seen enough of violation of what APGA stood for, and therefore cannot continue to stay in a place which had departed from the original course and where clearly he was no wanted.
A once diehard member of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), and staunch ally of late Biafran warlord, Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu, Mr. Obi was reputed to have hitherto declined many overtures from other parties to defect to their stunned political circles.
Reacting to his to his defection, Nigerian Ambassador to Spain and widow of the late Biafran leader, Mrs Bianca Ojukwu, has expressed shock and disappointment among others, over Mr. Obi’s defection from All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, to PDP.
“It is undeniable that Peter Obi made immense contributions to APGA. I remain proud of his achievements, as governor of Anambra State. His exit diminishes us, and many of his supporters and grassroots crusaders are disappointed and demoralised” She had said.
Mrs Ojukwu also described the action of the former governor as a betrayal of her late husband and renowned Igbo leader, Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu who had such great trust in him and his assurances that he, Obi, would always stand by APGA.
Reacting to Mr. Obi’s latest job, some commentators and opinionists saw it as finally revealing the real reason why the ex-Governor actually defected to the PDP.
“So Victor Umeh was right afterall, that he resigned from APGA because of his new post as the second in command of Goodluck’s Campaign” Said a commentator, Mc Original Udoagwa
Another commentator, Nwafor Uche said, “That’s good for him, what do I start to gain from that appointment? Biko koro m ihe ozo.”
Though not many every one expressed pessimism with Mr. Obi’s many appointment, Mr. Ezaike Kenechi Ekwulobia has berated critics of the ex-Governor saying they would live to see his tremendous achievement in future.
In his words, “My prayer is that all Peter Obi’s enemies will live to see what Peter Obi will be in this country.”
With the latest Political calculation of President Goodluck Jonathan and by extension the PDP, appointing Peter Obi as the Deputy DG of Jonathan’s Campaign train, means the man is in charge of the South East and South South, thus expected to poll a tremendous amount of his supporters from his former party to the PDP.