2023 presidency may have drawn Atedo Peterside on a battle lane with Goodluck Ebele Jonathan
OpenLife Nigeria can report authoritatively that there is more than one indication that Atedo Peterside, a corporate Czar, may be on a war path with former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan in the 2023 presidency on the platform of the All Progressives Congress, APC.
Peterside who resigned his chairmanship on the board of Stanbic IBTC Holdings Plc on 31 March 2017, OpenLife gathered “Has been persuaded to throw his hat into the 2023 presidency ring and currently consulting with high net worth individuals in Nigeria and overseas.”
The persuasion, OpenLife gathered from credible source, begun with the deposed Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, who, at a private meeting, extolled Atedo Peterside’s impeccable credential that could sell his presidential aspiration if he accepts to run.
A bewildered Atedo, OpenLife learnt, instantly cautioned Emir Sanusi to drop the idea as he is not cut out for partisan politics.
“It was the deposed Emir Sanusi that first hinted him about the 2023 presidency. But you know, a man like Atedo Peterside would not really like to be dragged into partisan politics and he told Sanusi instantly that he is not interested,” the source disclosed.
According to the information, this discussion happened about the time Atedo Peterside was made a Co-Chairman of the Steering Committee, alongside the Finance Minister, in the 2021-25 new National Development Plan for Nigeria which was inaugurated by President Buhari in May 2020.
Before then, he has held various advisory roles to the government of Nigeria but never agreed to accept a full-time public sector appointment.
But the President Buhari’s appointment appeared the icing on the 2023 presidency cake even when he has openly castigated the government for economic inactions.
According to our source, former Emir Sanusi, sensing that Peterside was unyielding, decided to enlist local and international political and business stalwarts and supporting his persuasions with convincing anecdotes.
First is that Nigeria needs a technocrat to succeed President Buhari, a point that settles well with Atedo Peterside in view of his corporate pedigree.
Second, OpenLife gathered, is the unannounced zoning whereby Atedo Peterside could fill the uncompleted Niger Delta tenure slot of former President Goodluck Jonathan should he consider the offer.
Money, as a major factor in the 2023 presidency race, would certainly not be a problems as Atedo has the capacity to raise trillions of dollars to navigate the length and breadth of Nigeria’s political space.
In all this however, OpenLife was told that Atedo never bought into the game plan until recently when a respected clergy was said to have announced to him that the stars would shine in his favour in the 2023 presidency.
“He never really felt he should be in the 2023 presidency race. He is not a man that would like to be on a war path with Jonathan. He loves Jonathan and he knows that Jonathan is being persuaded to run. But Sanusi does not want to hear any of that. He detests Jonathan so much. Rather than Jonathan, Sanusi would ensure that Peterside goes for the job. But what changed the game was the admonition from the clergy. That was the game changer. Atedo has gone spiritual about the ambition and he is on a 360 degree consultation including the spiritual dimension,” the source stated.
Interestingly, in what seems to be his preparedness for the 2023 presidency, Atedo Peterside, on Sunday, March 21, took to his twitter handle to make supplications to God. He prayed and requested in the tweet saying:
“Dear God, thank you for walking alongside me and making my burdens light. Give me the strength and confidence not to ignore the sufferings of my numerous country men whose burden is so much heavier than mine. Give me the idea and show me the path to help to make their burden light.”
Meanwhile, as Atedo Peterside seeks God’s direction in his new vocation, key political heavy weights across partylines in Nigeria are calling on former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan to get ready for another shot in the Villa on the platform of the All Progressives Congress, APC, once again.
If as it seems, Jonathan announces his 2023 presidency aspiration, that would literary set the stage for a battle of the titans in the days ahead within the Niger Delta enclave.
Besides, as reported in OpenLife Nigeria days ago, Nigeria’s first lady, Aisha Buhari is said to have been the solid rock behind governor Yahaya Bello’s political success and ascendency over the years. She is also said to be the biggest inspiration to the Kogi governor for the 2023 presidency.
At the moment, the 45 years old governor is reaching out and lobbying elders in APC for the party’s ticket.
Born in July 1955, Atedo Peterside, Commader, Order of the Niger, CON, is a Nigerian entrepreneur, investment banker, and economist. He is the founder of Stanbic IBTC Bank Plc, Anap Business Jets Limited (Anap Jets), and the Atedo N. A. Peterside Foundation (Anap Foundation). He had his secondary school education at the King’s College Lagos. He then proceeded to The City University, London (1973-1976) where he obtained a B.Sc. degree in Economics. He went on to obtain an M.Sc. (also in Economics) from the London School of Economics and Political Science in 1977.
Peterside founded the Investment Banking & Trust Company Limited (IBTC) in February 1989 at age 33. He served as the Bank’s CEO till 2007.
IBTC, in compliance with the Central Bank of Nigeria order in 2005, requesting a N25 billion minimum capital base, acquired Chartered Bank Plc and Regent Bank Plc on 19 December 2005 to form IBTC Chartered Bank Plc.
The bank later merged with Stanbic Bank Nigeria Limited to form Stanbic IBTC Bank Plc in October 2007. Atedo Peterside who was chairman of the group till 2017, was also on the board of many blue chips, before he stepped down to concentrate on humanitarian services.
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