By Ayo Kehinde
Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Atiku Abubakar has brought to rest speculations of who and where his running mate in the 2019 presidential election would be and where he would come from by choosing former governor of Anambra State, Peter Obi on Friday.
Prior to the official announcement, speculations were rife that either former Minister of Finance and supervising minister of the economy, Okonjo Iweala, a World Bank Chief or Osita Chidoka, former boss of the Federal Road Safety Commission, FRSC, would clinch the ticket. The 57 year old former governor of Anambra State has a vast background spanning business, finance, banking and governance.
Ex Governor Gbenga Daniel, Campaign Director of Atiku Abubakar in the statement gave reasons Obi was picked as the running mate to Atiku Abubakar.
The 57-year-old Obi was a former governor of Anambra State and a former Chairman of Fidelity Bank Plc.
Daniel, according to NAN, said Obi’s choice was largely influenced by his youthfulness, vast knowledge of global and local economics as well as being a financial expert, all experience which Nigeria is in great need at this point in time.
“This ticket will be able to steer our nation back on the path of progress, economic prosperity and unity”, Daniel said.
Born 19th July, 1961, Obi attended the Christ the King College, Onitsha and later proceeded to the University of Nigeria, Nsukka where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy in 1984.
“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 led various divisions some of which includes: 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 (SEC); 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.
“He is a member of the British Institute of Directors (IOD), Nigerian Chartered Institute of Bankers and Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG)
