Dr. Yunusa Tanko is the spokesperson of the Third Force Coalition for the Labour Party. He was once a presidential candidate and former chairman of Interparty Advisory Council, IPAC, in 2019.



In this interview, he speaks on the state of the nation, 2023 polls and the chances of LP presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi, among others.

What actually is the Third Force and its focus?

The Third Force is a coalition that adopted the Labour Party; it’s a conglomerate of individuals such as Prof. Pat Utomi and others, we are the ones championing the cause of a new political movement that is different from the All Progressives Congress, APC, and Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. The Third Force that emerged is the Labour Party adopted by the Third Force movement as its own political vehicle and quite a number of political parties are involved such as the 15 registered political parties that joined the Labour Party recently. Apart from political parties, there are quite a number of technocrats, intellectuals, political juggernauts, all representing the interest of Nigerians devoid of the APC and the PDP.
The focus of the Third Force is to bring in a new ideologically- based political party that will take Nigeria out of the woods of the dominant political parties.

Can you clear the air on the issue of who is the spokesman for the Peter Obi Campaign Organisation?

What really happened is that there was a Big Tent, a support group for Mr. Peter Obi. We have an intellectual support group, finance support group, security support group, media support group, and mobilisation support group for Peter Obi/ Datti candidacy of the Labour Party.


For now, I cannot say yes or no that I am the spokesman for the Peter Obi Campaign Organisation, but I would rather leave it for a formal pronouncement by the campaign organisation. On several occasions, I’ve been mentioned in that regard but we are just waiting for their formal pronouncement.

The view in certain quarters is that Peter Obi is just a social media creation that does not have a taproot. Does Obi actually have a taproot?


Oh yes, he does. He seriously has because the difference between Peter Obi candidacy and the other candidates is that it is the people that are yearning for him and I will give you a simple example. You will find out that if you are going to have a rally, most of the conventional politicians would be the ones financing the rally, mobilising with T-shirts and banners, but in the case of Peter Obi, it is the people that pay for banners, billboards, face caps, organise marches with no kobo from Peter Obi as mobilisation and so you can see that it is the people that are mobilising for Peter Obi while the other candidates use their own resources to mobilise for themselves. So, I think that Obi has more taproots than any other conventional politician in Nigeria

Are you sure that these young people will come out with their PVCs to vote on election day?


Oh sure! Let me give you statistics, over 12 million people registered in the recent CVR and out of the 12 million, within the ages of 18 and 35 are youths and they represent about eight million registrants and most of them got attracted to the Peter Obi candidacy, not to talk about the old registration of voters which was about 84 million. The INEC is now targeting over 90 million registered voters. For sure, eight million youths registered purely for the interest of Peter Obi and if you want to do your mathematics, you take that eight million out of the 15 million that voted for Buhari in 2019. So when you minus eight million from 15 million, you will have seven million left for us to cover but we are targeting a population of 30 to 40 million voters for Peter Obi out of the 90 million that registered as voters. This is our strategic calculation because the upsurge has affected the older generation which you can attest to nationwide.

Last Saturday (two weeks ago), Rivers State had a large number of people that came out to mobilise, same thing in Enugu. In Kaduna, it was supposed to happen but they were physically denied by the Governor. So you can see that people just mobilise themselves, it is a spontaneous mobilisation. I just came back from the North-West where we visited Kano, Sokoto, Jigawa, Zamfara, Kebbi and Katsina states. These are core northern states and you will be amazed to know that there are people in Kano, Sokoto, putting up billboards with their own money, mobilising.

In a place where we went, at Aminu Kano’s house, the hall was filled to the brim with people and we didn’t give them money to come, we only told them there is sensitization of the Labour Party which was the first to be done by the party. It was the same in Katsina, Jigawa, Kebbi and that is how the mobilisation is going on even in the North eastern part of the federation. The amazing thing is that the level of the commitment of the people is unprecedented and for the first time in the history of Nigeria, you saw how the TUC and the NLC submitted their charter of demand to the candidate of the Labour Party which of course, is their political party and the TUC also sent their workers’ document for transformation agenda on policy to the same Peter Obi and so invariably, there is a humongous support from all walks of life for the candidature of Peter Obi.

What can you say on the allegation that one of the Presidential candidates is a contractor supplying the INEC machines for the election?
That will be investigated. Once we find out that it is true, we will challenge it in the court of law.


You are from the North and there are fears that the North will not vote for Peter Obi, how true is that?

That is a fallacy. Look, as we are today, check the statistics, the Minister of Finance is from the North, Minister of Defence is from the North, Economic Minister and other major principal officers, the Police IG, are from the North but if one person is killed in the South, 100 other persons are killed in the North. The economic situation of the North has gone completely down, people cannot even go to their farms and you want to tell me that these people suffering so badly will not vote for Peter Obi. This is just a creation of some people that want to sow a seed of discord in the minds of people.

To give you an example, I was in Guzau and I saw a physically challenged person and the moment we mentioned that we were the representatives of the Peter Obi Campaign Organisation, she burst into tears. She said they’ve been looking for a messiah that will help them and save them from this particular situation. And so, she opted that it is Peter Obi that she will vote for. This is a person with disability. So, if anybody tells you that they will not vote for Peter Obi, it’s a total lie. If they believe that there is nobody that will vote for Peter Obi in the North, why did they stop us from the one million-man march that we organised in Kaduna? That is to tell you that there is apprehension. Number two is that it’s just a ploy to send fears into the minds of a common northerner but every northerner is highly educated in terms of politics and they know the capacity of the person they want to vote for.

Source: https://www.vanguardngr.com/2022/09/2023-why-northll-vote-for-obi-tanko/

You may have interacted with Peter Obi enough to know what he will do if he becomes the President…

The documents are being worked on because we follow the manifesto of the party. Remember the party represents social democracy and it’s an ideologically based political party. One of the contents of the documents of the Labour Party is to create jobs for the Nigerian youths because an idle mind is the devil’s workshop, which of course translates into the mantra that Peter Obi has continued to use, consumption to production, which is the key because it’s only when you produce that you will be able to shore up your income and draw down the high rate of foreign currency and create employment for the people.
The Labour Party manifesto also talks about excessive spending without prudency and everybody knows that Peter Obi is a prudent spender and you expect that spending will be made with regards to production that will help the nation. There is the issue of education which would involve working with the charter of the United Nations for funding of education; we must also recognise the issue of insecurity and what Obi did in Anambra as governor is a sample of how he would tackle social service matters.

Peter Obi has been running away from the word ‘restructuring,’ does it mean that he would not restructure the country if elected?

No, he is not running away from restructuring. He’s a practical person. He said that every Nigerian will be involved in decisions that will help take Nigeria out of the woods. We want to discuss it and solve the problem in Nigeria but he never runs away from the issue of restructuring. What he even said in the last meeting with Afenifere, PANDEF and the Middle Belt Forum was that he wants to be a member of the team to discuss the issue and take a decision. He just wants to carry all of us along to have a robust discussion that will bring the best for Nigerians.

As a northerner, do you like the idea of restructuring?

Why not? At the end of it all, the accused may be the beneficiary. Look, the issue of restructuring is about creating jobs and making sure that the Nigerian system gets better. I feel pained as a northerner when my people are not being put to productive use. Do you know that every local government area in Nigeria has its own way of internal survival? In my own local government in Kano, for example, we may feel marginalised but we produce rice. We have young boys and girls who are well educated in western education but they have not enjoyed the bountiful land that God has given to them and with that kind of discussion, it will give my people room to come out and say we are being denied ABCD. So I will never be afraid of restructuring but I will not accept being dominated by anybody, I will not accept being denied my fundamental rights as a human being. I will challenge it.

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2022/09/2023-why-northll-vote-for-obi-tanko/

Tanko Yunusa is an amateur politician that’s still trying to find his voice, nobody takes him seriously. May Peter Obi never happen to Nigeria

Rozross:
Tanko Yunusa is an amateur politician that’s still trying to find his voice, nobody takes him seriously. May Peter Obi never happen to Nigeria

May Peter Obi never happen to you sir, therefore you shall see the promise land but shall not enter into it.

Rozross:
[s]Tanko Yunusa is an amateur politician that’s still trying to find his voice, nobody takes him seriously. May Peter Obi never happen to Nigeria[/s]

Same way u are a low level Amateur Zone B

When Tinubu win, u will still stay for trenches while his fellow politicians even from the South east u demonize will eat ur already Bleak future

#Olodo

.Northern elders flay alleged inciting statements against Peter Obi. Hear the elders below. The news is on vanguard I don't know why the it's not on front page yet. Northern elders has condemned those inciting Northerners not to vote Obi

Bethel4Life:
[s][/s]


“Secondly, Mahdi’s charge is laced with a lot of tribal and religious slur aimed at causing disaffection between Northerners and Southers, Northerners against Igbos and Northerners against Southeast in general.

“In an election period and in a period when Northern Nigeria is going through a very turbulent period, what the North needs is unity in face of all odds and not a campaign of calumny against anyone or region.

“As far as the coalition of Northern Elders Forum for Peace and Unity is concerned, Peter Obi was duly certified and cleared by the Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC), the Department of State Security ( DSS ) as a Nigerian who is eligible to contest for any elective office.

“INEC which cleared Obi did not say that the Labour Party Flag bearer is a Biafran. The DSS did not come out to say Obi is from Biafra and these organisations are headed by Northerners. Nigerians should be asking Madhi to tell them how he came about his allegations against Obi.

“Mr Peter Obi is running to be President of Nigeria and not President of Biafra or Igbos or Southern Nigeria. His ambition according to him is to guarantee economic prosperity and security for all Nigerians, irrespective of ethnic, tribal, or religious affiliation.

“The Peter Obi campaign is broad-based and all-inclusive. His track record of inclusivity is not in doubt. It is callous for anyone to accuse Peter Obi of running to represent the interest of Biafra. Peter Obi is running to represent the interest of all Nigerians”.

It was the contention of the Forum that the current insecurity, untold hardship, and economic deprivation, among other challenges facing Nigerians; with the North worst hit, can only be truly addressed by a visionary and committed leader like Mr Peter Obi.

Therefore, it would be foolhardy for anyone to tell Northerners to vote on a tribal, religious or regional basis again.

“We as a group would encourage Northerners to scrutinise the economic blueprints of all the Presidential candidates and then choose who has the competence to bring about a positive change, for us in the forum we took our stand with the wave of a new Nigeria that’s about to be birthed, a position we will make public soon.

“Similarly, Northerners should interrogate the achievements of all the contestants before choosing who should lead them. What Northerners should not do this time around, is to vote on religious or regional lines as Madhi is advocating”, the statement concluded.

Zombidiots will believe anyone.... Let me go and use my Northern username to catch cruise with Zombidiots on twitter


.

Bethel4Life:
[s][/s]

Same way u are a low level zone b

I don’t fight weak women like you, it’s a waste of energy. Oya run along and come back when you posses a third eye. ⚠️

Those who want to continue suffering are free to vote against Obi. For me and my family, we are Obediently useful come the year 2023.

Tanko is speaking the undiluted truth here. All my northern friends are saying they are voting for Peter Obi.

Moh247:
Zombidiots will believe anyone.... Let me go and use my Northern username to catch cruise with Zombidiots on twitter


.

shifting the goal post... from no northerner will Vote for PO , now it's those doing that is doing it for clout

I love how u urchins keep shifting the post

Bethel4Life:
shifting the goal post... from no northerner will Vote for PO , now it's those doing that is doing it for clout

I love how u urchins keep shifting the post

Lol

As a Northern man from Sokoto State I will vote Peter Obi

Are you happy now?

The north will vote for Peter Obi? Now that's what I call a Teutonic delusion

Moh247:


Lol

As a Northern man from Sokoto State I will vote Peter Obi

Are you happy now?

that's good


My Boyfriend from Kano says that he will Mobilize at 25% for Peter Obi in the North west

Bethel4Life:
that's good


My Boyfriend from Kano says that he will Mobilize at 25% for Peter Obi in the North west

Lol

Kai walai... We Hausa Fulani go give Peter Obi 80% vote..

Sai Peter Obi

They know that Obi is capable of rescuing Nigeria in the calamity of APC and that is why Lagos landlord and his supporters are having a sleepless night whenever they hear Obidient.

Moh247:




Lol

Kai walai... We Hausa Fulani go give Peter Obi 80% vote..

Sai Peter Obi

Sai Peter Obi

I dey wonder where Tinubu will get is votes oo,, my Boyfriend's people in the core north are abandoning him for their sons.

Wahala dey for anybody wey think say hin go inherit Buharis 12million Northern votes all by himself

Bethel4Life:


Sai Peter Obi

I dey wonder where Tinubu will get is votes oo,, my Boyfriend's people in the core north are abandoning him for their sons.

Wahala dey for anybody wey think say hin go inherit Buharis 12 Northern votes all by himself

It's just six months time eyes go clear

Moh247:


It's just six months time eyes go clear

Same here.. by six months time, u will understand who the Northerners really are


For Expo go and ask ur god Awolowo and Abiola, they will tell u never to trust a northern politician

Bethel4Life:

Same here.. by six months time, u will understand who the Northerners really are


For Expo go and ask ur god Awolowo and Abiola, they will tell u never to trust a northern politician

Awolowo, Abiola and Obasanjo all won Northern vote massively

Abeg check Shagari/Awolowo Election

Nnamdi Azikwe was the one who betrayed Awolowo at the parliament

Go and Verify

Just waiting 4 campaign to start first peter obi will shock everyone

If Peter Obi wins a single state outside South East.. I will give anyone willing to bet 100k...

He can't even win all 5 SE. They are permanent PDP slaves. They even betrayed and disgraced Ojukwu to vote PDP.

GeneralOjukwu:


If Peter Obi wins a single state outside South East.. I will give anyone willing to bet 100k...

He can't even win all 5 SE. They are permanent PDP slaves. They even betrayed and disgraced Ojukwu to vote PDP.

Use the money to pay balance of your house rent

NaijaRoyalty:

Use the money to pay balance of your house rent

No... Will use it to pay your school fees.

LeoDeKing mercilessly destroyed.

North central in the bag already.
Northern Christians in the bag also.

now let's watch as Atiku, kwankwanso and Tinubu fight for the remaining northern amajiri votes.

Obi is coming

Obi's popularity continues to spread like wildfire in harmattan. Tinubu is already out, while Obi is trying to outpace Atiku by some significant distance as well.

Kudos to Nigerian youths for keeping the momentum.

Victoria acerta!!!

GeneralOjukwu:


If Peter Obi wins a single state outside South East.. I will give anyone willing to bet 100k...

He can't even win all 5 SE. They are permanent PDP slaves. They even betrayed and disgraced Ojukwu to vote PDP.

If tinubu doesn't end up third or fourth, I will delete my nairaland account.

Even tinubu himself already knows he has lost out completely. It's just that he doesn't know how he can withdraw without being disgraced so he continues to push on against all odds. He can't get more than 10% in the entire SS and SE due to his senseless and insensitive all muslim ticket. The muslim North too have rejected him because they see him as a desperado. Christian North see him as a fool for insulting them. His party APC is hated by all Nigerians.

Tell yourself the glaring truth, Tinubu is out. Even bullion vans can't save him now.

Perfect

Remember paradise