2019: Why Atiku Chose Peter Obi Over Ekweremadu, Abaribe, Others

Peoples Democratic Party, PDP presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar chose former Governor Peter Obi as his running mate ahead of Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu and others in consideration for the position because of the energy of youth, vast knowledge of global and local economics among others.

Besides Ekweremadu others that were believed to have been in consideration were former chief executive of the Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC, Osita Chidoka, Senator Enyinninya Abaribe among others.

“Mr. 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,” Otunba Gbenga Daniel, director general of the Atiku Presidential Campaign Organisation said in a statement announcing the pick on Friday.

Before the announcement, Mr. Obi had met behind closed doors with Atiku in his Asokoro residence where the decision was conveyed to him.

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).

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