Why Peter Obi can’t be president — Ali Modu-Sheriff 

…says Northerners will not vote for Obi 

Former Borno State governor, Senator Ali Modu-Sheriff, has shared reasons he believes the National Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate and former governor of Anambra State, Peter Obi, cannot be voted as Nigerian president in 2027.

Obi, President Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC), and former vice president Atiku Abubakar of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) are seen as the frontline candidates for the 2027 general election, which has been slated for January.

Speaking on Politics Today, monitored by Tribune Online on Monday night in Abuja, Modu-Sheriff said Obi has been condemning Tinubu’s government and has not once condemned the activities of the Independent People of Biafra (IPOB), claiming that the group wanted to divide the country. 

“All the people that had wanted to be president, I never accused them. But he (Obi) never condemned, up till today in Eastern Nigeria, those that wanted to divide the country and calling for sit-out. I am not worried about Peter Obi at all because I know the northerners will never vote for Peter Obi. They have known better now. This situation is different now. You know why? 

“Peter Obi, when he was the governor, he chased all the northerners out of Anambra State. Because this is what Kano people are telling Kwakwanso now. That we always supported you (Kwakwanso). And we will support you if you run for president. But we will not support you to vote for Peter Obi.”

When asked if he should be tagged as supporting the Boko Haram insurgents if he had not condemned their activities, the former governor said, “Condemning is different from supporting it. He (Obi) wanted to be president because he wants to divide Nigeria… He’s a candidate. The last time you invited me here, I told you that people like Peter Obi will never stay in one political party because he’s pursuing an agenda. If he’s not a presidential candidate, he will move out. I told you here. Ask me how am I sure? Today, he has gone to like two political parties to become a candidate. It’s a crime. If you really want to succeed in Nigeria today, you don’t pursue an agenda of one section of the country. 

“If I, Ali Sheriff, would come out here and say that no, I only believe in Borno State, not in Nigeria, then I’m not fit to be a Nigerian. Because of this country, our leaders have fought, and we stood by them.”

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On the call by Obi for Tinubu to resign from office because of the state of insecurity in the country amidst other challenges, Modu-Sheriff said the president has done very well and should be commended rather than being condemned. He said the president has empowered the states through more monthly allocations to cater to the needs of the people. 

“I don’t take briefs for His Excellency, the President, but I can tell you for sure that today, what President Bola Tinubu did in this country and made sure that this country moves forward, if you don’t give him kudos, don’t condemn him. Let me tell you something: if at the time that Tinubu said that there’s no fuel subsidy. If they don’t remove it, Nigeria would not be able to pay our bills for that month. And not only that, he didn’t do that and take the money to himself; no, he gave it to the states. If you Google yourself today and look at the allocations of states, the ten highest-earning allocations of states, some states get as much as N55 billion in one month. 

“In my eight years in governance, the total I got is about N170 billion. This is now an allocation of a state in three months. He (Tinubu) wanted the country to progress. He wanted freedom for the states. And look, talking about this insecurity, yes security is the responsibility of the Federal Government but what you don’t realise is that it’s also the sole responsibility of the states. Go and look at the concurrent and the legislative list, it’s there. State have the responsibilities of security. In Nigeria most of the institutions of government are in the states. Every state governor controls a local government, control the religious leaders. It (security) has to be something in partnership. We all have the responsibilities to this country. We don’t just go and be condemning the President because there’s insecurity in Nigeria. Insecurity didn’t emanate from President Tinubu,” the former governor added. 

Modu-Sheriff said while former vice president Atiku Abubakar is eminently qualified to vie for and become president, he urged him (Atiku) to respect the rotation of the presidency between the north and the south, saying it’s not the north’s time yet. 

“Almost all of them, the leaders, they say they are thinking. Eight years for the north, eight years for the south. Therefore, it is not our time. Atiku Abubakar is eminently qualified to be a president.”

He added that the APC will not relent and will work day and night to ensure the victory of President Tinubu in 2027, describing democracy as a game of numbers, saying he can see President Tinubu whenever he wishes.

“If I request to see him, I see him. I will only talk to him on what I believe is true. Yes, there is no election that is complete until it is finished. Democracy itself is a game of numbers. We will be working hard day and night. We don’t take anything for chances. Insha Allah, he Tinubu (will) win.”