About four months ago when the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, defected from the main opposition PDP to his present party, he never knew Nigeria’s 62nd independence celebration for the year 2022 will be taken over by Obidients.
Newsonline reports that ordinarily on social media, especially Twitter, the 62nd anniversary of the most populous black, Nigeria should be trending non-stop, across Africa, but, rally for the former Anambra governor has taken over.
In 1960, 1st October, Nigeria got her independence from Britain, 62 years later, the African giant country is yet to give its citizens good governance.
Citizens of Nigeria, about 200 million in population; Nigeria has about 100 million citizens living in poverty. The change of government from the military to a democratic regime in 1999 seems to be nothing more than civilian regime without tenets of democracy. Nigerians lost hope.
The appearance of Peter Obi as one of the presidential candidates using the platform of a minor political party is for the citizens worthy of celebration. The campaign slogan of the former governor of moving the country from consumption to production has resonated well among the citizens of Nigeria. They see Peter Obi as hope.
From Lagos, the commercial city of Nigeria, to Kaduna, the political capital of Northern Nigeria, to Uyo, Akwa-Ibom state capital in South-South Nigeria, to Gombe, North East Nigeria, to Edo, Peter Obi supporters turned Nigeria’s independence day celebration to rally and campaign for the Labour Party presidential candidate.
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The popularity of Peter Obi supporters called Obidients has been questioned by the main political parties, the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from where Obi defected to Labour Party citing ideological differences.
A two-term former governor of Edo State, a former national chairman of APC and a former National President of Nigeria Labour Congress, Adams Oshiomhole, said the waves of Obi supporters will end only on Twitter and social media. He said, “four people are tweeting and disturbing the country.”
For Kastina State Governor, Bello Masari, ” nobody knows Peter Obi in the North, he is just a former governor of Anambra State”.
But the youths who are the major supporters of Peter Obi seem to be sending worries to the two main political players in the country.
Reno Omokri, a former aide to ex-president Jonathan, who has been a strong critic of the Obidient movement admitted that Peter Obi may take over the whole metropolitian cities of six states making up the South West region of Nigeria.
He however added that the APC presidential candidate Bola Tinubu may win from the local communities.
“Obi will do better than expected in the city centres of the SW (places like Ibadan, Akure, etc). The only reason Tinubu will carry the SW is because of the rural areas. Obi is not doing much to capture the votes of people who do not speak either English or Igbo,” Reno said.
Michael Ugochukwu Stephens, known professionally as Ruggedman, is a Nigerian rapper from Ohafia, Abia State, the conversion of independence celebration to rally for Peter Obi by citizens is a good awakening.
“It’s so sad that a lot of supposed learned Nigerians have allowed tribe and greed overshadow their morals. They don’t see elections as a chance to put good people in places of power to make life better for Nigerians.
“Instead, they see elections as a game where the best at spreading money and rigging wins. How exactly do you expect positive change and progress from such?
“Do not vote because the candidate is your friend or from your village or paid you money.
Vote because he/she is the most qualified person to move the country forward.”
Speaking on how citizens deserted the independent day celebration, a digital journalist, Adenekan Mayowa, said, “Nigeria’s 62nd Independence Day celebration in Lagos witnessed an empty stadium as citizens get nothing to celebrate.”
He added, “Peter Obi is the only Presidential Candidate we know his whereabouts, we know about all his travels and wherever he goes unlike others that they are hiding like Palliative. That is transparency.”
In his independence address, the man of the season, Peter Obi, said, “Fellow Nigerians, as our dear country marks her 62nd Independence anniversary, I bring you fraternal greetings.
“Even as we remain thankful, prayerful and hopeful for a brighter future; we are mindful that many Nigerians are resigned, frustrated and tired of the many years of leadership failure. Many of our compatriots remain in captivity held by bandits; millions are living in IDP camps as their homes are now part of ungoverned spaces. Many Nigerian children go to bed hungry.
“Such people can hardly fathom the concept of independence and freedom; let alone a valid basis for celebration. At 62, rather than celebrate our patriotism, nationhood, unity, strength and diversity, Nigerians continue to grapple with the challenges of bad governance, replete with insecurity, worsening economy, corruption, and various forms of abuse of public offices and all manners of impunity. Each new day in Nigeria, instead of heralding progress and development, our national population, already weakened by poverty and hardship, are further burdened by new forms of disruptive challenges that are inimical to the societal well being.
“The catalogue of our national malaise are legion, and range from intermittent collapse of our national power grid; our universities remaining shut for 8 months; soaring inflation rate, extreme poverty; insecurity and visceral violence resulting in mindless bloodletting. Our national wealth, both cash and oil are reportedly stolen each day with unfettered impunity. Nigeria bleeds literarily and figuratively.
“These travails are neither measures of national greatness or good leadership. Rather, they represent overarching national interest concerns that must give us pause. They are sobering realities that ought to trigger a deep rethink of our political and leadership trajectory in the months and years ahead. As a nation and people, we cannot lose hope or give up.
“Intractable as our problems are, they are not insurmountable. We can easily overcome them when there is a purposeful and transformative leadership in place; one that will not makes excuses and will not be indifferent to the rule of law, equity and justice. Nigeria holds out hope of unfettered development, growth, greatness and indeed, dreams of infinite possibilities. But we must seize the moment.
“We must rescue and turn our country around. It is our challenge and our duty. We, therefore, cannot ignore the present deafening clarion call for change.”
