2023: Tinubu and Obi are my friends, I’ll make my choice on the ballot, says Ngige

 

Chris Ngige, minister of labour, says he will not disclose his preferred presidential candidate in the 2023 elections.

 

Ngige said this on Friday while featuring on Politics Today, a programme on Channels Television.

 

When asked by the host whether he would endorse his party’s presidential candidate, Bola Tinubu or back the Igbo people to vote for Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Ngige described the question as “difficult”.

 

“I have told you that I’m not active in politics,” he said.

 

 “I’m not active in politics for now because I am facing a national assignment.

 

“Both of them are my friends. My choice will be in the ballot box. Whether conscience or no conscience, on that day in February, I’ll have one vote.”

 

He added that “it is a secret ballot, and I shouldn’t tell Nigerians what I would do secretly.”

 

 “Both men and their track records are good, but you must go into the nitty-gritty of your analysis,” he added.

 

“Asiwaju Bola Tinubu came to Lagos when there was nothing. I lived in Lagos so I can tell you. He did what he was supposed to do and reformed the financial system, and built a solid foundation and roadmap for his successors.

 

He said he also did the same in Anambra state but “couldn’t finish”.

 

He said Peter Obi built on the foundation he laid as governor.

 

 “For the first tenure, he did not do infrastructure, but then he realised that it was a grievous mistake,” he said.

 

When asked to rate whether Tinubu performed better than Obi, the minister declined.