Ex Nigerian president Olusegun Obasanjo has backed opposition leader Raila Odinga as a viable candidate for the African Union Commission’s top job.
Speaking in Nairobi during a press conference, Obasanjo urged East African Community (EAC) countries to support Odinga.
“I do not doubt that my friend who is standing next to me (Odinga) is the right person to take over the mantle. If the EAC region backs him, I believe the rest of the continent will support him,” Obasanjo stated.
President William Ruto also fronted Azimio la Umoja leader Raila Odinga as Kenya’s top choice for the role. This was yesterday, in an arrangement that is projected to shape the political landscape and determine the 2027 presidential election matrix.
CS Musalia Mudavadi also pushed to have Raila elected chairperson of the African Union Commission (AUC) during the inter-ministerial conference of the AU meeting in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, that begins today.
In a surprising turn of events, President Ruto and Mudavadi have initiated a campaign for Raila to become the AUC Chairperson.
Raila Odinga declared interest in the position, explaining his willingness to replace Moussa Faki as AU Commission chairperson. The former Prime Minister promised to serve the entire continent and promote positive social and economic change should he get the highly contested seat.
In previous years, Raila served as the High Representative for Infrastructure Development in Africa under Moussa Faki.