Tanko: My New Path Is Political, My Respect for Obi Is Personal

Former Global Coordinator of the Obidient Movement, Dr. Yunusa Tanko has insisted that his new political direction has not diminished his respect for Peter Obi, drawing a firm line between political differences and personal loyalty.

Tanko, now National Coordinator of the Adebayo-Bugaje Presidential Campaign Council, said he has no reason to disparage the former Anambra State governor.

In a statement signed by the Media and Communications Adviser of the campaign council, Comrade Mark Adebayo in Abuja on Saturday he dismissed reports that he insulted his former principal.

According to him, the two parted ways amicably, with mutual understanding and without personal animosity.

He maintained that nothing about the separation justifies the picture of bitterness some reports have painted.

The position was made known in a statement issued in Abuja by the campaign council’s Media and Communications Adviser, Comrade Mark Adebayo.

Tanko used the statement to acknowledge Obi’s role in his political journey. He expressed appreciation for the opportunity to serve as his aide and to coordinate the Obidient Movement Worldwide, describing the experience as one he remains proud of.

He said the contributions he made during that period still matter to him, and that his present political differences with Obi cannot erase the value he attaches to the experience.

In his view, changing political direction is a normal part of public life and should not be treated as a verdict on the people one has worked with.

The former Obidient Movement coordinator argued that choosing a different political path should not be mistaken for hostility towards those he previously worked with.

He reaffirmed his respect for Obi and urged Nigerians not to interpret the separation as evidence of a personal falling-out.

His message, as relayed by the council, rests on a simple distinction: political choices are one thing, personal relationships another.

He sees no contradiction in pursuing a different political direction while continuing to acknowledge the man under whom he served.

Tanko also appealed to media organisations and members of the public to disregard reports portraying him as having insulted Obi.

He urged anyone who comes across such claims to seek clarification from the campaign council before circulating them.

By asking for verification before publication, the council is seeking to ensure that Tanko is judged by what he has actually said, not by what is attributed to him.