A former Governor of Anambra State and vice presidential candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2019 election, Peter Obi says the Minister of Transportation, Chibuike Amaechi cannot speak for the Igbo ethnic nationality as regards the 2023 presidential election.

He dismissed Amaechi’s opinion on the fate of the South-East geopolitical zone in the 2023 presidential election as a personal opinion merely expressed, saying the latter lacks the locus to speak for the region.

Obi, who, as running mate to former Vice President, Abubakar Atiku, in the 2019 presidential elections, was defeated by President Muhammadu Buhari, said this while speaking to newsmen on Monday, May 27, 2019 during a book launch as part of activities marking the second term inauguration of Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike in Port Harcourt.

The former Anambra State Governor said Amaechi, a former Governor of Rivers State, lacks the merit to speak on which geopolitical zone should produce the President in 2023, adding that the Minister is not from the zone.

He said, “Amaechi is not from the South East, so he cannot speak for us. He is not in any position to make such statements because even him that Is in APC did not contribute anything to the success of that election.

“He did not even achieve anything in his own state. Those of us from the South-East, who are in the PDP, contributed to the success of our party”.

He, however, advised government at all levels to focus on creating jobs for the teeming youths in the country, stressing that was the only way to end insecurity in the country.

Obi maintained that for peace to be achieved, President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration must unite the people and tackle the scourge of insecurity, calling on the President to work with the Governors and the Governors to work with the local council authorities.

He commended the efforts of Governor Nyesom Wike on his performance in Rivers State, pointing out that “what is happening in Rivers State is that every area has seen very visible improvement. He has done very well”.