Yunusa Tanko: Obi breaking fast with Muslims not political stunt — he’s done it before

Yunusa Tanko, spokesperson of the Labour Party (LP) presidential campaign council, has defended Peter Obi, the party’s presidential candidate in the 2023 polls, for breaking Ramadan fast with Muslims.

Obi had visited the central mosque in Maraba-Nyanya, FCT, to participate in breaking the Ramadan fast on Monday evening.

Bashir Ahmad, a former media aide to ex-President Muhammadu Buhari, had questioned Obi’s motives.

Ahmad said Obi was acting a script, asking why he did not join Muslims to break Ramadan fast during his tenure as Anambra governor.

Speaking with TheCable, Tanko said it is wrong for anyone to claim Obi’s actions were fueled by political gains.

“When you check his records, it will clearly show you that it is natural for him to associate with the people, especially the masses. That has been his lifestyle. He is not just doing so now,” he said.

“Severally, he has visited those in IDPs and other Nigerians and interacted with them. When he was governor of Anambra, he broke the Ramadan fast with people in Onitsha.

“Apart from doing so in this country, he has travelled out of the country to show solidarity with those who are completely neglected and abandoned by those in position of authority here. So, it is not a new thing.

“The only issue is that his actions are being given prominence now and publicised by the media. Aside that, he enjoys showing empathy to the people and associating with them. That is his nature and it has nothing to do with politics.”

ALLEGED DEFECTION TO SDP

Tanko also addressed claims by Daniel Bwala, a former spokesperson of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential campaign council, on Obi’s next political move.

Bwala had said Obi was on his way to the Social Democratic Party (PDP), but Tanko described the claim as “mere speculation”.

“I am not privy to that particular discussion, neither do I know any process that was discussed in that regard. If Peter Obi has such motive, I’m sure he would have exchanged that idea with some of us who are close to him. As far as I am concerned, I am not aware of such,” he said.

“I think Bwala is just trying to postulate certain situations that he may be privy to but that doesn’t mean what he said is definitely going to happen. We don’t want to speculate like he is doing.”