Jostling Intensifies As Delta Deputy Governor Otuaro Is Projected As Atiku’s Running Mate

Fierce battle over who becomes running mate to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar has erupted within the political bloc of the former vice president, www.bigpenngr.com can report.

Already, two former presidential aspirants and governors from the south south geopolitical zone are said to be in the race jostling for Atiku’s running mate position.

Dependable sources revealed that among those eyeing the position is Governor of Delta State, Ifeanyi Okowa, his Edo State counterpart, Godwin Obaseki, Akwa Ibom State Governor Udom Emmanuel and former Senate President Pius Anyim.

Following the seemingly scheming and jostling for the vice presidency position, the group, Southern Nigeria Liberation Movement (SNLM), urged the former vice president to look beyond friendship and political promises in picking his running mate, projecting the Deputy Governor of Delta state, Deacon Kingsley Otuaro as most suitable running mate.

While admitting that political party plays a vital role in the nomination process for running mate, he said however that Atiku has the right to pick a person who he thinks fit; ‘a person who will be loyal, selfless, of proven character, competent and will be committed to serving Nigeria.

“Our position is anchored on the need to unite the Country for optimal democratic gain as well as security of lives and property and not also forgetting the importance of securing our critical national assets which undoubtedly are the life-wire that sustains Nigeria.

“This mean that a credible, reliable, competent candidate to be the running mate to Alhaji Atiku Abubakar must be someone who outside of his status as a credible, reliable, and competent person must also be loyal, selfless, of proven character and above all a person who can help to secure our national assets.

The group posited that such a person must also has a robust relationship with the local communities where these critical national assets are situated.

“A person who can enter anywhere and at anytime to interface with the host communities just as Prof Osinbajo did during the Niger Delta Avengers’ attacks on our critical national assets, through the instrumentality of the Advocacy Group Against Vandalization of Oil and Gas Installations ably led by the most dependable and reliable Deputy Governor of Delta State, H.E (Dcn) Kingsley Burutu Otuaro; a person who will bring his wealth of experience to the fore in helping Alhaji Atiku’s administration to succeed; a person who will not be a clog to the smooth running of the wheel of State etc.

“Our humble appeal is that Alhaji Atiku Abubakar should not rush into picking a running mate but carefully and critically do a comprehensive finding to get a befitting candidate who will help his administration to succeed rather than some of these egoistic and ethnocentric governors whose stock in trade is to bear the appellation of Vice President without any significance to the overall well-being of our dear Country, Nigeria”.