Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2019 general elections, on Friday picked Mr. Peter Obi as his running mate.
Mr. Obi, who was a former governor of Anambra State, will give the South-East a shot at the presidency as the vice president.
A statement issued by the Director-General of the Atiku Presidential Campaign Organisation, Chief Gbenga Daniel, in Abuja on Friday night, confirmed the nomination of Obi.
The statement read in part, “The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar, has chosen a former Chairman of Fidelity Bank PLC and former Governor of Anambra State, Mr. Peter Obi, as his running mate for the 2019 presidential election.
“Born on July 19, 1961, Peter Obi attended Christ the King College, Onitsha and later proceeded to the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy.
“He is also a graduate of several international and national institutions such as the Lagos Business School; Harvard Business School; London School of Economics; Columbia Business School; Institute of Management, Switzerland; Kellogg Graduate School; Oxford University and Cambridge University.
“In public service, he has held various positions, some of which include member, Presidential Economic Management Team; Vice-Chairman, Nigeria Governors’ Forum; Chairman, South-East Governors’ Forum, and the Governor of Anambra State.
“Peter Obi is an astute professional who has laid his footprints across the corporate world.
“He was the Chairman, Board of Security and Exchange Commission; former Chairman, Fidelity Bank PLC; former Chairman, Guardian Express Mortgage Bank; former Chairman, Future Views Securities; former Chairman, Paymaster Nigeria; former Chairman, Next International Nigeria; former Director, Guardian Express Bank PLC; former Director, Chams Nigeria PLC; former Director, Emerging Capital: former Director, Card Centre PLC.”
Obi is also a member of the British Institute of Directors, Nigerian Chartered Institute of Bankers and Nigerian Economic Summit Group.
Daniel said Obi’s choice was largely influenced by his youthfulness, vast knowledge of global and local economics as well as being a financial expert, adding they were experiences Nigeria was in great need of.
“This ticket will be able to steer our nation back on the path of progress, economic prosperity and unity,” he added.
The late Chief Alex Ekwueme was the last vice president from the South-East region during the administration of Alhaji Shehu Shagari in 1979-83.
The military ousted the civilian government at the beginning of its second tenure in 1983.
The coup was led by Major-General Muhammadu (rtd) who is the current civilian President of Nigeria.
