Former presidential aide Doyin Okupe has accused Peter Obi, the 2023 Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate, of betraying his former running mate from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar. Okupe claims that Atiku elevated Obi to national prominence by choosing him as his vice-presidential candidate in 2019, but Obi later turned against his benefactor.
In a viral video, Okupe addressed accusations that he had betrayed Obi. He clarified that he withdrew his support for the former Anambra State governor because he no longer wished to work with him.
“They said I betrayed Obi. No. How can I betray him? I started politics in 1978. Obi was nowhere else,” Okupe stated. “Obi was the vice-presidential candidate of Atiku Abubakar in 2019. He brought him to the national limelight. Because of his own ambition, which was correct and due, Obi left the party and contested against Atiku. If people said I betrayed Obi, what did Obi do to Atiku? It is not fair.”
Okupe further argued that Obi’s presidential ambitions in 2023 led him to clash with Atiku, whom he referred to as Obi’s “former master.” He added, “Obi was not my master; I was his supporter. If I supported him up to a point and decided to go back and be myself, how can that be an offence?”
Read Also:Â Atiku Abubakar Sends Birthday Greetings to Peter Obi
Okupe also revealed that his initial support for Obi was influenced by Pa Ayo Adebanjo of Afenifere. “Baba asked which section of the South should be considered if the presidency was zoned to the region. I told Baba that it was only the South-East that has not produced a president. Baba said we should support the South-East for the presidency and I agreed. We reviewed the presidential candidates from that region and we concluded on supporting Obi. That was what happened,” Okupe explained.
