Kenneth Okonkwo has stirred reactions after rating President Bola Tinubu, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, and former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
Speaking during an interview, Okonkwo was asked to assess the three politicians based on whether they had previously received endorsements from one another. He argued that Atiku would score two points, while Tinubu and Obi would score zero if they were asked to vote for one another rather than themselves.
According to him, Tinubu endorsed Atiku for president in 2007, while Obi endorsed Atiku in 2019.
“In 2007, Atiku had concluded his tenure as Vice President. Tinubu endorsed him to be the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. In 2019, Atiku Abubakar was endorsed by Peter Obi to be the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” he said.
Okonkwo added that neither Tinubu nor Atiku had endorsed Obi for president, while Obi had also never endorsed Tinubu.
He further defended Atiku’s political relevance, saying his record in government between 1999 and 2007 remained a basis for judging his capacity ahead of 2027.
“He co opted the best in the whole world. That was when Okonjo-Iweala came on board. That was when El Rufai was brought in to sanitize the FCT,” Okonkwo stated.
He also credited the Atiku era with improved security, economic management and the repayment of Nigeria’s foreign debts.
“Nigerians have never had again the best as they had from 1999 to 2007,” he declared, adding that Nigeria moved from being a “pariah state” in 1999 to becoming “the darling of the whole world” by 2007.
