Peter Obi, a former governor of Anambra state, has been picked as the running mate to Atiku Abubakar, presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
The deal to have the two-term governor of Anambra on a joint ticket with Abubakar for 2019 was reportedly sealed at a meeting in Abuja on Friday afternoon.
Born 19th July, 1961, Peter 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.
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).
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.
The statement said that Atiku/Obi ticket will be able to steer “our nation back on the path of progress, economic prosperity and unity.
Although a former Nigerian leader suggested picking the running mate from the south-west because of the voting population, Atiku ended up considering five candidates.
They are Obi; Ike Ekweremadu, who is currently deputy senate president; Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, former minister of finance who is an Igbo from the south-south; Mustafa Chike-Obi, former MD of AMCON; and Osita Chidoka, former minister of aviation.
“Atiku said he would want a VP who would focus on the job rather than playing politics,” an insider told TheCable.
Ekweremadu was highly favoured initially because of his broad-based experience as a former council chairman, former secretary to the government of Enugu state, and two-term deputy senate president.