A former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Chief Olu Falae, has refuted a report that he endorsed the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Mr Peter Obi, ahead the 2023 presidential election.
The pan-Yoruba socio-political group, Afenifere, had earlier declared support for the candidacy of Obi as its preferred candidate.
The leader of the group, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, at a press conference justified the decision of the group to back the LP presidential candidate as he said the group would not compromise the principle of justice, equity and inclusiveness because the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, was a Yoruba man.
However, Chief Falae, a chieftain of Afenifere, in a statement issued by his his Personal Assistant, Captain Moshood Raji (retd.), said he had not declared support for any presidential candidate yet, as reported in some media platforms. The statement was titled, ‘Falae’s position on presidential poll’.
The statement read, “The attention of Chief Olu Falae CFR, GCON, has just been drawn to a publication that has gone viral in which the former Secretary to the Federal Government is quoted as saying that he is supporting the candidature of Mr Peter Obi as his preferred choice in the 2023 Presidential race.
“As a responsible leader, Chief Falae will consider all important parameters, including capacity, experience and proven track record before endorsing a candidate.
“This correction is necessary in order not to mislead the public that Chief Falae is supporting any of the candidates yet. It is necessary to await the programmes and manifestos of the political parties and their candidates before arriving at a particular candidate to support.”
Credit: Punch