Atiku at the meeting with Peter Obi on Friday

The Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Atiku Abubakar  picked the former Governor of Anambra State, Mr Peter Obi, as his running mate for the 2019 presidential election because of his youthfulness and knowledge of the economy.

This is disclosed in a statement issued by the Director General, Atiku Presidential Campaign Organization (APCO), Otunba Gbenga Daniel on Friday in Abuja.

Daniel said that the choice of Obi was largely influenced by his youthfulness, vast knowledge of global and local economics as well as being a financial expert, “all experience which Nigeria is in great need of at this point in time.

“This ticket will be able to steer our nation back on the path of progress, economic prosperity and unity,” Daniel said.

Obi, born July 19, 1961, attended the Christ the King College, Onitsha and later proceeded to the University of Nigeria, Nsukka where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy.

He is also a graduate of several international and national institutions such as the Lagos Business School, Harvard Business School, London School of Economics, Columbia Business School, Institute of Management, Switzerland, Kellogg Graduate School, Oxford University and Cambridge University.

He had led various divisions of public service including Member, Presidential Economic Management Team; Vice-Chairman, Nigeria Governors’ Forum; and Chairman, South-East Governors’ Forum.

Obi is an astute professional who has laid his footprints across the corporate world.

He was the Chairman, Board of Security and Exchange Commission (SEC); former Chairman, Fidelity Bank PLC; former Chairman, Guardian Express Mortgage Bank; and former Chairman, Future Views Securities.

He is also a former Chairman, Paymaster Nigeria; former Chairman, Next International Nigeria; former Director, Guardian Express Bank PLC; former Director, Chams Nigeria PLC; former Director, Emerging Capital: former Director, Card Centre PLC.

He is a member of the British Institute of Directors (IOD), Nigerian Chartered Institute of Bankers and Nigerian Economic Summit Group.