Again, the leader of Pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, has warned Nigerians of the negative consequences of not electing Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), in the February 25 election, insisting that it would be similar to falling from fire into a furnace.
His warning, came less than 24 hours after former President, Olusegun Obasanjo, publicly endorsed the former Governor of Anambra State, stressing that he towered above other such candidates as Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, of the All Progressives Congress (APC), who are also jostling for the presidency.
Adebanjo, who commended Obasanjo for his courage to declare his choice of Obi publicly, said he was not surprised by the action of the former President, as he had always been in support of power shift to the South East in the interest of equity, fairness and justice as well as keeping the country together.
Adebanjo was quoted to have said Nigeria would be in trouble if the people failed to vote for Obi, adding that the decision of Afenifere to support Obi was ideological and principled, because other regions except the South-East had enjoyed the privilege of occupying the nation’s number one position.
Stating that there was no justification for Asiwaju Tinubu, to contest when Obasanjo, from the South-West was President for eight years, he said the same thing applied to the PDP candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, insisting that it was wrong for another Northerner to take over when a Northerner (President Buhari) is leaving office on May 29..
According to him,“How are you going to justify Tinubu when Obasanjo had spent eight years? Or how do you justify Atiku when another Northerner is leaving the place? That’s the crux of the matter. The South-West has done, South-South has done, is South-East not part of Nigeria?
“Those who believe in principle would support our position. “Don’t bring in ethnicity. I said it in my statement. If it is about ethnicity, I should support Tinubu. I made him the governor but I am not supporting him as President. Yoruba people don’t cheat others.
“We cannot talk of a united Nigeria when the South-East has not had it. I am not like Atiku who said he wants to keep Nigeria. How can you do that when you are denying a part of Nigeria its right?
“Nigerians must vote the right people in the right places. If they vote outside Obi, Nigeria will be in trouble. Anything outside Obi, we are in trouble.”
Meanwhile, Nigerian Youths and Obedient family both in Nigeria and in diaspora have said the message by the former President Olusegun Obasanjo has further boosted their morale and that they are now more determined to win back Nigeria for the future generation.
In an appreciation letter by the National Youth Leader of the Labour Party, Prince Kennedy Ahanotu, to Chief Obasanjo, the youth said, “Your message to Nigerians is clear, succinct, refreshing and it has built more confidence in our heart.
“I am pleased to inform you that we are further motivated, inspired, encouraged, re-energized, united, resolutely committed to stand up and take our future in our hands.”
He said that it is always emboldening when a father stands in support for his children to succeed. “Your letter to Nigerians, especially youths is enough to spur us to stand for our right and to vote without being bias along ethno-religious lines.
“With renewed energy and God being our helper we shall make a statement come February general election by massively supporting and voting Labour Party’s candidate – Mr Peter Gregory Obi and Senator Datti Baba-Ahmed as we join hand together to build a prosperous nation where peace, equity, justice, credibility and excellence reigns.”
The former President had In a message to the Nigerian youths endorsed the candidature of the Labour Party Presidential candidate, Peter Obi in the February election while also urging them ensure that he is elected.
Though members of the other two political parties, the APC and PDP are kicking against the endorsement however, Prince Ahanotu said that Nigerians can not afford hand over the nation to the two parties who he said have failed the nation.
He said, “Your Excellency, no doubt the last seven and half years have been painfully eventful and stressful for Nigerian youths with unprecedented increase in unemployment rate, number of out of school children, severe poverty, endemic insecurity and FOREX exchange rate which negatively affected businesses. Indeed, we truly have moved from frying pan to fire, and from mountain top to the valley.
“For many youths it has been hell on earth and incessant scourge of poisonous whips. The worst of it was the long stay at home as a result of protracted Federal Government face-off with lecturers which kept Nigerian students away from school for about 8 months.
“Indeed the challenge thrown is for Nigerian Youths to arise, and we are very much determined to Take Back our Country (Awa lokan). Nigerian Youths are willing to obey this clarion call and do not wish to fall prey again, as we have been trampled beyond our resilient abilities.
“Let me sincerely and humbly thank you for inspiring us with your letter and clearly giving the Nigerian Youths a specific direction with respect to 2023 Presidential election.
“There is a proverb in Igbo parlance which says that “an elder does not watch the goat give birth in tatters”. These clear endorsement of Mr Peter Obi on the 1st January 2023 among other presidential candidates by you our elder statesman is very significant and has equally shown that you care about Nigeria’s state of affairs, and the stellar excellent leadership qualities you will want Nigerians to support.”
Similarly, the Labour Party (LP) senatorial candidate for Anambra Central, Chief Victor Umeh, has said that his party’s presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi, is the best among others in terms of competence to take charge of the presidency upon the completion of President Muhammadu Buhari’s tenure on May 29, 2023.
The former senator stated this in his New Year Message to the people of Anambra Central Senatorial District and all Nigerians.
Umeh, who is seeking to return to the Red Chamber of the National Assembly, advised Nigerians to see the 2023 elections as a unique opportunity to elect the right people that will sincerely work to reposition the country for greatness.
Umeh, the Ohamadike said: “It is a thing of joy to welcome you into the New Year hale and hearty. I thank God for preserving our lives despite the numerous challenges of the year 2022 and making it possible for us to crossover into a new and promising year 2023.
“This year, however, is a very important year in the history of our dear Nation. The year of another General Election in our political history. Looking back into the past two decades of the return of democracy in Nigeria, one will agree that we are not yet where we are supposed to be as a Nation. There is therefore a compelling need to rise up and work together with one mind and purpose, to ensure that the February 25th General Election becomes the Opportunity for us to reposition our Country by electing the proper and competent Leadership for our Nation.
“I therefore make bold to say that the Labour Party Presidential Candidate, Mr Peter Obi based on his track record in governance and management of resources, and his far-reaching experience, is the most competent candidate for the Presidential Election. Fortunately, this opinion is shared by majority of Nigerians, considering the level of support and solidarity his candidacy has garnered across the whole states of the federation especially amongst the Youth.”
Continuing, he said: “In about 55 days from today (January 1), Nigerians will have to decide the next leadership of this already sick and weak nation, I urge everyone not to vote for people who will further stagnate our progress as a Nation but to elect only people who will heal the Nation and move her forward to another level.
“To my beloved Ndị Anambra Central, I thank you all for your love and support for me in my bid to return to the Senate in the same Election through the Labour Party. I assure you of my commitment and consistency in pursuit of better welfare and equity and fairness for our people and all Nigerians if elected!
Meanwhile, spokesman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Presidential Campaign Council, Mr Charles Aniagwu says the party was not bothered by former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s endorsement of Labour Party Presidential candidate, Mr Peter Obi.
He said that while the party would have loved to have the endorsement of the former Nigerian leader like he did in 2019, the party was comfortable with the numerous endorsements from Nigerians across the country.
Speaking on AIT Television programme: “Kakaaki”, on Monday, Aniagwu, who is also the Delta State Commissioner for Information, said Obasanjo is one leader that enjoys respect across the country but the party is quite happy with the endorsements it has received from Nigerians which could be seen from the different rallies held thus far.
“We have organic convergence of Nigerians in all our rallies and at the end of the day their vote is what matters than any other thing.
We would have loved to have Obasanjo’s endorsement just like he did in 2019 when he endorsed and supported Atiku Abubakar because he believed that he had what it takes to take Nigeria out of the current situation.
“Democracy allows you the latitude to make choices and he has made his own choice and we do believe that most Nigerians are already making their own choices and from what we have seen Atiku is already favoured to win this election.
“We don’t have any problem with Obasanjo endorsing anybody because that is his democratic right and you can’t take it away from him but Nigerians at the end of the day will make the ultimate choice of who governs them for the purpose of recovering Nigeria from where we are at the moment,”
Aniagwu said the party would not begrudge Obasanjo for the choice of Obi, rather it will buoy the party to intensify engagements with relevant stakeholders across the country.
“The PDP Presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar, his running mate Dr Ifeanyi Okowa and indeed our presidential campaign council are not ruffled because we do realise from the beginning that we are going into a contest.
“We knew it wasn’t going to be a roller-coaster and that is why we have continued to interface with Nigerians across the six geopolitical zones.
In this contest, nobody is an underdog and we do have respect for all candidates contesting this election but we do believe that we stand taller than any of the contestants.
“We are convinced that Nigerians would likely look in our direction because our presidential candidate and his running mate have got the credentials to be able to position our country and recover it from where we are at the moment.
“So if a former President under the PDP has decided to pitch his tent with another person is not something that will ruffle us, it will only strengthen us to further deepen our interface with Nigerians for them to understand that where we are headed that Atiku-Okowa are the only ones that have what it takes to lead Nigeria out of the woods,” he said.
The presidential campaign spokesman said he was happy that Obasanjo in endorsing Atiku in 2019 made it very clear that Atiku has got the experience and described him as “the President for the time”.
“I don’t think anything has changed from his views about the capability of Atiku to address the many challenges confronting us today, the challenges have become more severe which requires a man that has got the experience and candour to be able to deal with these issues.
“Our brother Peter Obi was a member of the PDP until not too long ago before he joined the Labour Party, so we do not begrudge him if he now enjoys the support of former President Olusegun Obasanjo.
“Most Nigerians do know based on the records of Atiku Abubakar and his running mate Dr Ifeanyi Okowa in the last seven years that these are the individuals that have what it takes to be able to address the challenges of today.
“Atiku has got the reach both nationally and internationally to unify Nigeria and put it on a strong pedestal in the comity of nations and we are very much convinced that Atiku towers far above other presidential candidates and that is why we are looking forward to Nigerians endorsing us because theirs is the ultimate,” Aniagwu added.
On the threat by G-5 governors to pitch tent with another presidential candidate other than that of the PDP, Aniagwu said the party would continue to appeal to them to sheath their sword and join hands to deliver on its rescue mission.
He said Wike’s actions in recent times are inimical to democratic norms and ethos and pleaded with the Rivers Governor to respect the democratic rights of citizens of the state to freely support their preferred candidates without hindrance.
“We will continue to plead with our leaders who are members of the G-5 because we believe that working with us will smoothen our ride to Aso Rock Presidential Villa.
“We also recognise their democratic rights to make choice but as they do so they must recognise the role the party has played in their lives and that is why we are asking them to sheath their sword and return home.
“Much as we desire that there should be peace in the party, a peaceful Nigeria is much more than any group and PDP being a group is desirous of a peaceful Nigeria,”
He urged Governor Wike to thread softly in Rivers, adding that his recent actions strangulating opposition views in the state was not good for democracy.
“Governor Wike has to a very large extent progressed in error and we will continue to plead with him that this democratic journey is very important to Nigerians and as such it will not be tolerated by Nigerians for him to continue taking actions that are inimical to the growth and development of democracy in Nigeria.
“Revocation of Certificate of Occupancy of those who tend to have divergent views with him is not in line with democratic norms and principles.
“Hounding members of the party that don’t agree with him is not also in line with democratic ethos and so while we allow him to have his own choice, he should respect the rights of those who gave him the power which is of course transient and would be over in 5 months time.
“If Wike doesn’t like Atiku and Okowa he should think about what the party has done for him right from when he became Chairman of Obiakpo Local Government Council to becoming two time governor of oil-rich Rivers state.
“Let him respect the fact that the party has done well for him and return home to help the party to win the election.
“This is important because where we are now is not a period for acrobatics but a period to begin to rebuild, recover Nigeria and doing so we need to march together in one accord as members of the PDP which is the only party that is well positioned to lead Nigeria out of the woods,” he state.
In separate reaction, a former Senate Chief Whip and stalwart of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Edo State, Senator Rowland Owie, has advised Chief Obasanjo to go before God to atone for the sins he committed against those who brought him out of prison, his tribe, the PDP, Nigeria and Nigerians.
Owie, who was reacting to the former President’s endorsement of Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, for the the February’s presidential election, described Obasanjo as a major destroyer of Nigeria.
He said the former President “hates those who say the truth,” adding no one should be deceived by his antics.
“He was in prison, when a great Nigerian, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida (retd) invited his close friends, including my humble self to Minna, Niger State sometimes 1998. After a meeting that lasted 8 hrs, a prisoner, an ungrateful one for that matter was adopted and at the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential primaries in Jos, Plateau State, an ex-convict became candidate.
“Gen. IBB, Alh. Atiku Abubakar, Sen. Orji Kalu and a host of others raised money to rehabilitate him and also to finance his election. In his election, he lost his entire South West zone. Yet, he won the election with votes from other zones of Nigeria. A man who claims to be upright and calls other unprintable names wanted unconstitutional third term.
He insisted that Obasanjo “hates Alhaji Atiku Abubakar because he fought against OBJ’s satanic third term agenda. Nothing more!! and nothing less!”
Owie urgedNigerians to investigate OBJ on why he destroyed all toll bridges in Nigeria during his tenure. “Was OBJ not the President that started sharing “Ghana must go bags” full of cash in the NASS? The Edos have a parable which says that ‘A man caught with having sex with a married woman in the farm has no moral justification to take part in the choice of a youth leader in the same community.”
“Nigerians have not forgotten how he raped the Transitional Decree of 1978, when he shifted the political goal post in the middle of the match in 1979 when he removed the provision for electoral college in the that Transition Decree of 1978,” he said.
