By Paul Okojie
The presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi, has rrejiged and assured his followers, popularly referred to as ‘Obidients’, that he and his running mate Datti Baba-Ahmed are with them.
This comes days after the 61-year-old distanced himself from a purportedly leaked phone call between himself and the founder of Living Faith Church Worldwide aka Winners Chapel, Bishop David Oyedepo.
While denying the authenticity of the viral audio, he raised the alarm about pressure by unidentified adversaries on him to flee Nigeria.
In a series of tweets on Monday, Obi encouraged his supporters, saying allegedly there is an orchestrated efforts to demarket and delegitimise the “OBIdient Movement” and it would fail.
He argued that members of his base face and pass through a litany of challenges, including flawed electoral processes, insecurity, weak institutions, multidimensional poverty, unemployment, inflation, lack of justice, fairness, equity, and opportunities.
“As we reflect on these challenges and look forward to a New Nigeria that is POssible, Datti and I are painfully mindful that for the mere reason of being OBIdient, most of you have suffered vituperations, physical attacks, loss of rights and privileges, hateful trolls, indignities and vexatious fighting words, even from some of those we long regarded as civic leaders and conscience of our nation,” he stated.
Peter Obi urged Obidients to bear such attacks as the sacrifices that they are required to make in order to create a New Nigeria, where justice, equity, fairness, love and prosperity shall reign.
“Be assured that Datti and I are with you, and that the ongoing unfortunate orchestrated efforts to demarket and delegitimize the OBIdient Movement will fail,” Obi said.
“We are fully structured and have remained focused and steadfast in addressing the ills in our nation; while underpinning the supremacy of our Constitution and imperatives of the rule of law.”
The LP candidate restated to his supporters’ the desire to use all lawful and peaceful means allowed under Nigeria’s laws and constitution to “reclaim our mandate to create a New Nigeria that is POssible”.
Obi added that “in all your actions and inactions”, they should be law-abiding, respectful and peaceful.
“In all you do, always remember those immortal words of Dr. Martin Luther King Jnr, that “The true measure of a man is not how he behaves in moments of comfort and convenience, but how he stands at times of controversy and challenges”. A New Nigeria is Indeed POssible,” he said.
