Obi storms Onitsha Main market, urges voters to troop out at polls

By Phil Okose, Onitsha

The Presidential candidate of the Labour Party, LP, Mr. Peter Obi, at about 2.30pm Thursday, landed with helicopter, at the Godwin Achebe stadium, Fegge Onitsha, Anambra State, from where he and entourage commenced a last minute campaign road show to Onitsha Main market.

Obi and his entourage were greeted by mammoth crowd as they passed through the major roads acknowledging cheers from them even as most youths pulled their clothes and used them to clean Obi’s vehicle as part of endorsement for his presidential ambition.

However,  the sudden appearance  of Obi in the market forced some people to climb vehicles, tree tops and roofs of buildings to have a glimpse of the Presidential hopeful who only waved to the surging crowd as he was not comfortable to address them.

One of the traders who used their clothes to clean his car, John Okema, said , “Obi we know, he will do to Nigeria what he did in Anambra as a Governor. armed robbers ran away from Anambra. The roads he worked on were many and are still there for all to see.

“He introduced Anambra State Integrated Strategy, ANIS, to touch all aspects of the economy. That is why there is no sector of the economy he did not touch.

“Talking of insecurity especially kidnapping, armed robbery, touting, among others, if Obi is the President be rest assured that the lost glory of the country will be restored. So we will vote Obi,” he stated.

“Also a food vendor, who simply identified herself as Madam Chinwe, said that, “Obi is for everybody irrespective of tribe. My joy is that he is the youngest of all the candidates with his Vice, they are like twins. Nigerians should ensure they vote for Obi-Datti if they want the country to be changed for the better.

“If I tell you Obi’s achievements in Anambra you will be marveled. The two stadia in Onitsha were constructed by Obi. He built the roads in Onitsha and environs when there were no roads and today teachers are happy because all schools from primary to tertiary institutions were either repaired or rebuilt, many things he did that I can’t remember now.

“If Obi is President Nigeriian will just go and sleep because all these stories of killing, armed robbery, assassination, among others will become a thing of the past. Just vote for him and leave the rest for him. We know him, he is energetic, not old like other candidates,” she hinted.

Pic shows Cross section of the crowd at Bright street, Main market  as Obi acknowledged cheers from the crowd Thursday.

Meanwhile, A pan Igbo grassroots socio-cultural organization, Imeobi Igbo Forum, Thursday, urged Igbo to vote for the Labour Party, LP Presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi, and sack unperformed Igbo members of the National Assembly, come the general election, billed for Friday, not just because Obi is Igbo, but because according to him Obi represents all the ideals that a country would want for her President.

The National President of the Forum, Chief Mike Ikegulu, made this plea in Onitsha, stating that Obi stands tallest in all aspects compared with all the other Presidential front runners.

“For the first time in Nigeria, a Presidential candidate is enjoying so much goodwill, love and acceptance across the country. Let’s show solidarity on this singular opportunity for Ndigbo reintegration in Nigeria. Those Igbo political elites who are opposed to Peter Obi, fear disconnection from their source of aggrandizement. They come in to Southeast, brandishing money and security men, but crawl around Abuja/Lagos carrying people’s portfolios picking crumbs.

“They are blinded, not knowing that their enslavement would end with Peter Obi Presidency. Many Igbo political and business elites have stood against this golden opportunity, just as they have been doing over Igbo interests. Governor Ortom calls them outcast.

“Considering that we have been crying of maginalization since after the Nigeria-Biafra war. A very rare opportunity has come and Igbo elites are working against it. We urge Ndigbo to vote out the transactional and self serving National Assembly members. Let new voices be heard for Ndigbo. Otherwise our experience of  22.7billion dollars infrastructure loan, excluding Southeast, will continue.

” Membership of the National Assembly, is not about constituency projects, allocated to every member. But by feeling the pulse of the people and being our voice, representing Igbo interest. This we strongly lack at the moment in Abuja, unfortunately. Let’s reject the old voices buying their ways to go back, even from some self serving governorship seats.

“We join the Northern Christian Elders Forum that urged Nigerians to vote candidates into offices based on capacity, ability and good health. As a sick country cannot be handed to sick President. Let’s refute the claim of Ango Abdulahi who said before 2015  election about power going back to the North, “we have it, we have it for keep”.

“Let’s all do the right thing and vote Peter Obi and Datti Ahmed of Labor Party, to end bare faced corruption and theft, for the good of Nigeria. Isaac Balami of Borno State said, ” I cannot imagine a Nigeria without PO as President “, he stated