Obasanjo rationalised his letter supporting Obi by claiming God would punish him if he did the wrong thing.

Governor Ortom stated that while Obi, like most others, is not flawless, he has the leadership traits Nigeria needs at this time.

Both leaders addressed distinct audiences.

Only unpatriotic Nigerians will vote for a horrible character—Obasanjo.

In Abeokuta, Ogun State, Obasanjo spoke at the Experiential Leadership in Africa (TEL-Africa) interactive session.

The TEL-AFRICA worldwide interactive session is titled "Executive Decisions, Indecisions, and Leadership Development in Africa."

However, only "unpatriotic and evil Nigerians" will vote for a candidate with a terrible character in the upcoming general elections.

In his New Year's address, “My plea to all Nigerians, particularly young Nigerians,' the former President supported Obi.

However, PDP presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar and APC presidential candidate Bola Tinubu reacted.

"Whether the letter is open or not, what I think is that I will be punished by God if I know what is right and I did not place it where it should be," he stated.

“The word I used is that one particular candidate has an edge, bringing everything together, and I take the character, track record, vision, and what you see in this man as a child of God.”

“I said they all claimed to be my mentees, and of course, I won't refute that, but if you are my mentee, they must also admit that I know them a little bit, and if I know them a little bit, I must be correct.

“Why are people? I did this for Buhari earlier. You've seen that President Buhari doesn't understand economics. I wasn't criticising him—he admits that.

“When he was Military Head of State, he declared his frontline did not reach beyond the borders of Nigeria, that is a pity.

“But what do you have, I wrote a letter over six and a half pages and then only one sentence.

“Why should you as a Nigerian vote for somebody whose character, reputation, and life you do not want your children to be?

“If you're evil, unpatriotic, or a genuinely bad citizen of this country, what do you want God to do with you? That's how I view it.

“For the previous three days, I have been talking to approximately 35 teenagers and they all informed me that education, security, and corruption are things they are concerned about, but who can do it?”

Despite being a PDP member, I prefer Obi to Ortom.

Governor Ortom stated that he favoured Obi because he would have to lead the campaign if he were not a PDP member.

He also blamed the Dr. Iyorchia Ayu-led national leadership of his party if reconciliation with the G-5 governors failed.

Ortom said in an interview that Obi, like most others, is not flawless, but he is the kind of leader Nigeria needs at this time.

He congratulated President Olusegun Obasanjo for endorsing Peter Obi to lead Nigeria at this difficult time.

Ortom stated, “So, here is someone that is looking ahead and wants the best for our country, Nigeria. He advised Peter Obi today.

I would have carried Peter Obi's luggage and campaigned for him if I weren't in PDP.

“This country needs him to fix things. Clean-cut. Though nobody's flawless, that's unquestionable. No one is God. But this person stands out.

I recommend Peter Obi for president. Obasanjo is a nationalist.

“He made certain mistakes, especially on the third term issue, but nobody should contest the integrity, patriotism, forthrightness, and ambition to create a greater Nigeria more than President Obasanjo.

Southern colleagues disappoint me.

“As you can see, my colleagues in the G-5, we are all PDP members, and most of us are contesting the election, except our chairman, Governor Nyesom Wike. I'm the leader, but we have a passionate chairman who isn't running.

I'm disappointed with several PDP southern governors who chickened out, sold out, and did something else.

APC governors dominate the north. How many northerners are PDP? Just myself, Sokoto governor Aminu Tambuwal, Bauchi governor Bala Mohammed, and Taraba governor Darius Ishaku.

I must praise APC for battling for equity, fairness, and justice because they believed the president should go to the south.

Because mind you, Nigeria is a country with many ethnic groups, religions, and sentiments, we must always be sensitive to harness and attempt to marry all these sentiments so we may live together. APC governors advised moving it south.

“Northern APC delegates voted against aspirants during the conference. This should go south, as we said.

“So, I'm particularly unhappy because when the southern governors convened and said look, we want that presidency should go to us in the South, I came out the following day and said yes, what they have said is correct, let us do it. Thus, issues.”

PDP crisis, G-5 governors

“I think we (G-5 governors) are on pace as far as I'm concerned,” Ortom said of the party problem. We've served our party plenty (for reconciliation). We are informed that the failed national leadership will use the chance we have given them to fix those concerns.

“There are various methods to address challenges, even when you cannot meet the demands of a group of individuals, you will find a solution.

"A little to the left, a little to the right," declared former military president Babangida. Find the meeting spot.

“Where people decide to be arrogant, mischievous, and do things as if the other person does not exist and try to do something with impunity, as if they have won election and don't need any other person, it creates an issue.

“But election cannot be won without ballot. As a veteran politician of over 40 years, most of these key actors in politics are my subjects in the School of Politics.

“The beautiful thing about someone like me is that I started from the ground up and built myself to where I am now.

Arrogance, impunity, and mischief won't help. Expect humility. Even if you succeed, you must stoop to conquer. Interests rule politics.”

Contrary to rumours, the G-5 governors were not at a loss for their next step, but as faithful party men, they were leaving enough ground for genuine reconciliation to save the party they had all worked so hard to construct.

(Source: www.vanguardngr.com)