Supporters of Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), on Saturday, organized rallies across the country.
The rallies held amid activities to mark Nigeria’s 62nd independence anniversary.
Asaba Delta State
Socio-economic activities halted in Asaba, Delta State capital by crowds of supporters of the Labour Party presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi and his running mate, Yusuf Datti-Ahmed.
The unprecedented and intimidating crowd that marched from the Inter-bus roundabout along Nnbisi road, kept increasing as they shut down the city for over seven hours.
Our correspondent observed the passion-driven youths came out from different communities of Delta North Local Government Area around 8 am to embark on the one-million-man march in Asaba.
One of the Obi’s supporters during the march, Mr Donatus Ebere told Sunday PUNCH that what the group witnessed was more than a one-million-march.
He said, “We are having one-million-march in solidarity with Peter Obi but what we saw today is no longer one million. You see that the crowd here is about two million.
“Before we chose between two evils. Now, we have Peter Obi over the two evils. So, in 2023, the youths will massively vote for Obi.”
He said that the one-million-march would be translated into one million PVCs in Asaba, urging supporters to ensure they get their PVCs so that the one-million-march will not be in vain.
Aba, Abia State
Similarly, Aba, the commercial nerve centre of Abia State was also literarily locked down as a result of the one million-man march embarked upon by supporters of Peter Obi.
Supporters of Obi and members of a pro-Governor Okezie Ikpeazu group, OVI Organisation, had as early as 7am gathered at different locations on the outskirts of the city, from where they marched for over 9 kilometres before they converged on the city centre later in the day.
While some converged on the Osisioma Junction, others gathered at Port Harcourt Road and Opobo Junction from where they moved round the streets of the city, before meeting on Asa Road.
The crowd marched through Aba-Owerri Road to Asa and Azikiwe roads, before heading towards the Ogbor Hill axis of the city.
People who lined both sides of the streets, cheered as the crowd who were singing solidarity songs for Peter Obi, passed by.
Obi’s supporters, who took part in the march cut across party lines as people from different political parties, businessmen and youths were involved in the march. Members of OVI also joined the rally in support of Obi.
Chisom Amalahu, Coordinator of OVI Organisation said with the way things were going currently, it was of necessity and political expedience that such decisions to support Peter Obi should be taken despite the party differences.
There was heavy traffic gridlock on major Streets of Uyo, Akwa Ibom State capital as supporters of the Presidential candidate of Labour Party, LP, Mr Peter Obi embarked on a 2 million- man on Saturday, October 1.
The supporters, mostly youths who took off from the Water fountain, at Nwaniba, Uyo by 11 am and walked round the major Streets of Uyo metropolis before they converged at the Discovery Park, Udoma Avenue about 2 pm.
Addressing the supporters, State Chairman of LP, Comrade Lincoln Charles said, “This 2 million match will avail all ‘Obedients’ the opportunity to familiarize, synergize and reignite their support base for the presidential flagbearer Mr Peter Obi, for a possible and better Nigeria.
“This is a reawakening of our consciousness in politics, leadership and governance. Our message is direct, clear and simple. It is all about Hope for Nigerians and all believers of good governance.
“It is about strong grassroots mobilisation to encourage eligible voters to vote for Peter Obi come 2023. Let us all know our PVCs are intact because Peter Obi’s movement is real.
” The time is now for all Obedients to stand bold and say enough is enough by marching words with action , spread the message across the units, villages, wards and LGAs that a vote for Peter Obi signifies hope, and victory for all Nigerians”
On his part, the Spokesperson of Peter Obi in Akwa Ibom Mr Aniekan Udofia urged the residents to join the Obedient movement for a better Nigeria from 2023.
He said:;” When we started they said we are making noise, that we are not serious. When we started they said the Labour party does not have a structure. You came out and you gave us structure. Never in history have Nigerians come out to choose their President. In 2023 Nigerians will choose their President, Peter Obi”
Also speaking, the Campaign Director, Peter Obi Integrity Network for Transformation, (POINT) Engr Okon expressed confidence that their Principal would emerge victorious in 2023 given the massive support he is receiving from all parts of the country.
“Today is the independence day of Nigeria, and I can say that today is the day Nigeria is completely free and independent. As you can see, the revolution is going on and nothing can stop it. Look at the type of people that are coming out to express their love and passion for our principal.
“Everything about today is just dedicated to Peter Obi. We see a divine hand in it, this movement is not ordinary, it started like a joke and it’s growing like a wildfire we are talking of 2m man match and you can see the crowd and these two million people cannot be wrong” Okon said.
A female youth who identified herself as Mercy Anny decided to join the rally because of her readiness to vote for Obi.
Her words” I came out today to for this rally because I am for Peter Obi. And I can assure you unlike other parties this is not a paid or borrowed crowd. I am here because I want a better Nigeria. I came out today because I want my unborn children to have a better life. And I know Peter Obi has what it takes to give us that better life”,
Bauchi State
Chairman of the Labour Party in Bauchi State, Barrister Husseini Saraki has expressed optimism that the Presidential candidate of their party, Peter Obi will cruise to victory in the 2023 Presidential election.
Saraki, who made the disclosure on Saturday in Bauchi during the one million march rally organised by the Labour Party in the state, said Nigerians were tired of lies of both the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and party and the main opposition party, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP)
The LP Chairman, who expressed joy at the large multitude that thronged the streets of Bauchi to support the Obi-Datti Presidential and Vice Presidential ticket, said critics who believe the labour party has no structure will eat their words.
“We are tired of all their lies and we want to show them we are serious. During the day of the election they will be surprised,” he stated.
“They say we don’t have structure, we appreciate when they underrate us that we don’t have structure when the time comes during election they will just see voters coming from every corner to vote for Peter Obi and the Labour Party”
The LP Chairman said the youth and mothers want to see action, assuring that Obi and the LP are coming with a mantra that will change the fortunes of this country.
“With Peter Obi there is hope and the northern Nigerians- Fulani, Tivs, Hausa and everybody have come together,” he said.
“We are going to vote Peter Obi and we are not going to allow religion and ethnicity and any other factor to divide us. We are united and we are after action and results and Obi is the only one that can save us,” he said.
On the chances of Obi against Bola Tinubu and Abubakar Atiku of the ACP and PDPe said the party will continue to do their best to tell Nigerians who Obi is saying
“Atiku and Tinubu have immense resources but what are the means? Peter Obi is a businessman and is When he was governor he and left behind N17 billion. He is the only surviving ex-Governor retired who has not received a dime as retirement benefits”
Members of the Labour Party (LP) and supporters of Obi converged on the Multipurpose Indoors premises in Bauchi to join the One Million man match in support of the presidential candidate of the party, Peter Obi.
As early as 8 in the morning, the supporters had started arriving at the venue from across the 20 LGAs of the state in demonstration of their unalloyed readiness to vote for the party at all levels.
Some of them were seen wearing materials with the symbols of the party while some of them held the party flag high singing and dancing expressing happiness and joy.
They later embarked on a 10-kilometre march from the Wunti roundabouts through the main Ahmadu Bello Way through Yelwa and ended at Rafin Zurfi, a suburb of Bauchi metropolis.
Adamawa, Gombe/Kebbi State
Similar Obidients movement also marched in Adamawa, Gombe and Kebbi State
Osun State
Supporters of Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), on Saturday held a rally at Ile-Ife, Osun State, saying that Nigeria needs an agile person to champion the course of a new government.
The coordinator of the movement, Olamide Awosile, who spoke to our correspondent during a March for A New Nigeria” rally posited that only a fresh and capable leader can lead Nigeria and rid it of all the problems it currently facing.
He described Obi as peoples’ choice, saying that Nigerians are tired of old politicians and it is time to have a new Nigeria.
Awosile encouraged Nigerians to join hands with the movement to bring in a new government that will be for all without discrimination.
“We must all work together for a new Nigeria and to do this, don’t collect money. Even if you collect money from them, it’s your money they stole and gave you back. Collect the money from them and vote for Peter Obi.”
He said the youths are ready to vote, saying “out of about 12 million registered voters, Nigeria youth took about 9 million. That means that Nigerians are ready for Peter Obi.
“We can not continue with the set of people who have taken Nigeria as their entitlement. People that feel Nigeria is their own continue to mismanage Nigeria. We are tired of them and also to let people know in the community that we now have a party that can deliver Nigeria from the mess we are in now.
“Nigerians have selected and rally around a leader, so it is not the usual practice where they will choose someone and enforce it on people.
“In this case now, Nigeria chose Peter Obi as their leader and they are sending their money to ensure that he becomes their leader. Peter Obi is the people’s choice, voice and he will never disappoint people.”
Warri, Delta State,
In Warri, Delta State, the chant, “We’re ‘Obi-dient, we don’t take shi shi, we don’t give shi shi” rent the air as Obi supporters marched through Warri, Delta State yesterday.
Thousands of supporters marched through the city, mostly wearing the green-white-green national colour, from the DSC Roundabout to the Warri Stadium, where they addressed the crowd and discussed Obi’s aspirations for the presidency.
While insisting that a new Nigeria is possible with strong leadership that will take office in 2023 with Peter Obi as President, the supporters marched through Effurun Roundabout singing solidarity songs and intermittently chanting, “We don’t take shi shi, we don’t give shi shi.”
The supporters marched under the banner of the Delta State Alliance for Peter Obi Movement and carried various placards with messages like, “We need Nigeria refining her own crude oil and producing her own products.”
EDO State
In Edo State too, thousands of residents staged a two million-man march in solidarity for Obi and Senator Datti Yusuf.
The residents, drawn from various quarters of Benin City, took over the Ring Road, in a well-coordinated manner.
The rally for Obi stole the day and made the Independence Day celebration pale in significance; the marchers were all adorned with the paraphernalia of the LP and the T-shirts of its presidential candidates. The rally further led to gridlock in the city centre.
Addressing the mammoth crowd, former Attorney General of the state, Osagie Obayuwana, charged the people to go home and take the message to the nook and cranny of the state with a view to changing the narrative.
He said the country is rich and can afford to take care of its citizens, adding that just recently some individuals were refunding money in millions all in the name of rent allowances.
In the same manner, thousands of supporters of the Labour Party (LP) in Kaduna State, yesterday took to the major roads in solidarity health walk for candidate Peter Obi and Datti and the candidate of the party for Chikun/Kajuru Federal Constituency, Hon. Ekene Abubukar Adams.
The Labour Party supporters who came out in their large numbers with branded T-Shirts, face caps, mufflers and other items chanted various solidarity songs in support of the Obi/Datti movement and Ekene Door-2-Door campaign groups.
The supporters said the country requires genuine change and that they are ready to carry the campaign to every nook and cranny until the old breed politicians were shown the way out in 2023, adding that it was no longer going to be business as usual.
Lagos State
As early as 7:30am, supporters of Obi gathered at the extension of Archbishop Vining church in Ikeja GRA, Lagos, in preparation for a “four million-person march”.
Despite the rain on Saturday morning, the supporters showed enthusiasm to defy the weather.
Security operatives marched alongside Obi’s supporters.
The LP supporters chanted as they marched in Festac and parts of Ikeja, including Opebi, Allen and computer village areas.
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