‘He won’t be a spare tyre’ — Obi says running mate Kwankwaso will be equal partner

Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), says he will run an inclusive government in partnership with Rabiu Kwankwaso, former governor of Kano, if elected president.

The 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) named Kwankwaso as his running mate on Saturday at the NDC national convention in Abuja.

Obi and Kwankwaso contested the last presidential election but finished third and fourth, respectively, behind former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar and President Bola Tinubu, who was declared the winner.

Kwankwaso contested on the platform of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), winning only Kano, a state where he remains politically influential.

Unveiling Kwankwaso as his running mate for the 2027 election, Obi said he would not run a government where the former Kano governor functions as a “spare tyre”.

“The government we intend to form will no longer be a government where anybody will say that the vice president is a spare tyre,” Obi said.

“The vice president will be a partner because we want to build a nation where there are two equal people who work for the greatness of the country.

“Decisions will be taken as partners. Everybody will be consulted. That is what we require, and that is how government functions.

“It is on this note that I graciously accept the affirmation as the candidate of this great party. And in the same spirit, I am inviting Dr Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso to join me as the vice-presidential candidate.”

Obi said Kwankwaso shares his ideals, particularly his belief in an egalitarian society where a child of nobody can become somebody.

“He believes in education and security. And we will work together to ensure it happens,” Obi said as he welcomed Kwankwaso to the podium.

On May 3, Obi and Kwankwaso joined the NDC after quitting the African Democratic Congress (ADC), citing “uncertainties” over the party’s future.

The former Anambra governor had earlier pledged to serve only a single four-year term if elected president.

He said his administration would use the period to tackle wastage in public spending through a deliberate reduction in the cost of governance.(TheCable)