Unlike Atiku, Tinubu is unknown in core north and south-east, Melaye replies Oshiomhole

Dino Melaye, spokesperson for the Atiku Abubakar campaign council, says his principal is the “most trusted” presidential candidate among those contesting for presidency in 2023.

Melaye spoke on Thursday during a Channels Television interview in response to comments made by Adams Oshiomhole, former national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

On Wednesday, the former Edo governor said the PDP flagbearer is the “weakest link” among the leading presidential candidates.

He described Atiku as a “serial betrayer of agreements” who is not trusted by his party leaders, including the five aggrieved governors of the PDP.

Responding, Melaye said Oshomhole is “taking Panadol” over PDP’s crisis instead of focusing on the controversies surrounding Bola Tinubu, the APC flagbearer.

Melaye said the former vice-president is a “pan-Nigerian” who is trusted in every part of the country, adding that even witches and wizards know Atiku is not an ethnic jingoist or religious bigot.

“Instead of Oshiomhole to talk about what they can do as a government. He was dabbling into domestic issues. He was talking as if he was quoting the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” he said.

“Look at it, Atiku is the most trusted presidential candidate of all the 18 presidential candidates in the 2023 elections.

“The west are comfortable with Atiku, the southerners are comfortable with him, Hausa, Fulani, and Ijaw are comfortable with Atiku Abubakar. Everybody is comfortable with Atiku Abubakar.

“Even witches and wizards cannot accuse him of being a religious bigot or ethnic jingoist. Everyone in this country knows Atiku Abubakar.

“During his quest to get the ticket of the PDP, he went to every part of this country and he was welcomed. Atiku is the only presidential candidate who got votes from every zone of this country.

“Tinubu did not even visit the south-east. He did not go to any of the states in the south-east when he was going around to seek the ticket of the party.

“Go to the core north and say Tinubu, nobody knows who Tinubu is. Go to the south-east, go to Umuneri, Aguleri and Nnewi, they don’t know who Tinubu is.”