Dino Melaye, a former Senator representing Kogi West, has poured cold water on the presidential ambitions of ex-Labour Party candidate Peter Obi, insisting that now is not the time for him to lead the country.
Appearing on Channels Television on Thursday, Melaye described Obi as a “fantastic Nigerian” for whom he holds tremendous respect, but argued that the former Anambra governor lacks the unifying qualities required for the nation’s top job.
“Peter Obi is a fantastic Nigerian. I have tremendous respect for him, and I’ve said it before, he is a fantastic person, but this is not his time to be President,” Melaye stated.
The remarks come as Obi continues to signal his intention to contest the 2027 presidential election.
Melaye, who lost the Kogi State governorship election under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to incumbent Governor Ahmed Ododo, made the comments during a broader discussion on national politics.
Dele Fashomi, seasoned journalist and communication teacher, is a holder of Master of Arts degree in Communication and Language Arts from the University of Ibadan in 1992/93.
Earlier, he had bagged a Bachelor degree from the same university in 1984, after which he proceeded to the Nigerian Institute of Journalism, Lagos, in 1990, for a postgraduate diploma in Journalism.
He had done many courses in communication, including the EU-BBC Editing Course in 2002.
Mr. Fashomi combines effectively the practice, research and teaching of communication. And to date, he has published two academic works in communication: Issues in Communication Technology and Policy (2010) and Economic and Social Issues in Advertising and PR (2013).
He had his first break in the Nigerian media in Concord Newspapers in 1990 and today, he has over two and half decades experience earned in several newspapers.
He has been part of many start-ups, such as The Republic (1987), The Comet (1999), The Anchor 2001 – 2002; Sun Newspapers (2003); Westerner newsmagazine (2005 – 2010) as Editor; National Life (2011) as Sunday Editor, and Newswatch Newspapers (2012- 2016) as Daily Editor.
Dele Fashomi is now the Publisher/Editor-in-Chief of Newstide247.com newspaper online, which he started in July 2015. He is also into biography writing, with many books in his trail, some of which he wrote alone and one he co- authored with his mentor, Mr Dare Babarinsa, entitled: Olabiyi Durojaiye – DARE TO BE DiFFERENT. He also guided and collaborated with Pa Olatunji Odusanya in writing his autobiography – AGAINST ALL ODDS. There are many other books in the works under his pen.
