A renowned political economist and chieftain of the Labour Party (LP), Prof. Pat Utomi, has joined the debate arising from the endorsement of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu for the 2023 presidency by an erstwhile leader of Afenifere, Pa Reuben Fasoranti.
All along, Afenifere, the influential pan-Yoruba socio-cultural group led by Chief Ayo Adebanjo, had declared its stance to back the LP presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi, a decision it said was anchored on justice, equity and fairness.
But in what seemed a twist in the tale, Pa Fasoranti, while hosting Tinubu on Sunday at his residence in Ondo State, prayed for the APC presidential candidate, declaring him the choice of the Yoruba nation for Presidency.
Seemingly a detour, the sentiment expressed by Fasoranti, in the presence of some eminent Yoruba leaders, has since sparked controversy, with Adebayo insisting that Afenifere still stands with Obi.
And Utomi has re-echoed the position of Afenifere, which Adebanjo had repeatedly amplified, to the effect that Peter Obi is the candidate of choice.
Fasoranti, in an interview on Tuesday, said the Yoruba group would support the former governor of Lagos State in 2023 general elections.
Utomi, who was a guest in a Channels Television Programme on Tuesday night, gave Adebanjo thumps up for standing on principle, to back Obi for president next year.
He dismissed the furore generated by the Ondo meeting between Tinubu and Pa Fasoranti as inconsequential.
He noted that it is high time Nigeria moved away from politics of selfishness, which had kept it in doldrums for decades.
He said: “The part of Nigeria that must exude principle-based politics is the South West. The fact is his position is driven purely by principles and was taken long before Peter Obi showed up. And the fact that a candidate goes to Pa Fasoranti for blessing is normal.
“The leaders of the South-East, South-South, North Central and Afenifere had a meeting hosted by Adebanjo at the request of Pa Edwin Clark. At the meeting a principle-centred position was taken based on the fundamental principles of decency, fairness and certain moral compass. I’m not familiar with the internal dynamics of Afenifere. Those things are generated by people who are bent on destroying Nigeria.
“What is at stake is that our country is dying and the young people of Nigeria want to disrupt the system that leads to capture in which politicians obsess with the love of self, take the common good and make theirs.”