The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has dismissed suggestions that youth-driven movements, like Peter Obi’s 2023 Obidient movement, pose a threat to President Bola Tinubu’s re-election in 2027, stating that such movements cannot replace the solid political structures of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Speaking on Monday during an interview with Channels Television on the influence of mass movements, Keyamo argued, “The Labour Party was built around him (Peter Obi) and the Obidient movement. Go back to history — even Chief (Obafemi) Awolowo and Dr (Nnamdi) Azikiwe, despite being heroes, could not transcend the complexities of Nigerian elections without structures.”
He went on to ask, “Under what platform?” in response to rumors that Obi’s Obidient movement may jeopardize Tinubu’s prospects of winning reelection, highlighting how the APC’s established infrastructure held up well in the 2023 elections in spite of the difficulties caused by the petrol shortage and the naira devaluation policy.
“Have you seen the results of the elections in 2023? The APC’s structures remained strong in spite of the naira redesign strategy and the gasoline shortage, which worked against our party. Keyamo continued, “It was like a house built on solid rock,” reaffirming his faith in the APC’s unwavering power.
Additionally, Keyamo emphasized President Tinubu’s strong support in northern Nigeria, which he thinks will be very important in the next election.
He stated that “President Tinubu has more friends in the North than in the South-West,” suggesting that this relationship will be crucial to ensuring the President’s reelection.
In a similar incident, Keyamo addressed Sheriff Oborevwori, the governor of Delta State, who recently defected to the APC, saying that he had given the governor leadership of the party in the state in an effort to fortify it even more.
“As long as we are bolstering APC further for Mr. President’s reelection, it doesn’t matter if I have to make sacrifices like we did yesterday when we gave up (party leadership in Delta),” Keyamo stated.