Innocent Okeke, the National Vice Chairman for the Labour Party’s (LP) South-East, has criticised Anambra Governor Charles Soludo and multibillionaire businessman Arthur Eze for underestimating Peter Obi’s chances in this year’s presidential election.
Soludo and Eze had utilised various media to emphasise that Obi was wasting his time and that the LP candidate would not prevail in the presidential election on February 25.
Obi’s desire to run for president is an idea whose time has come, according to Okeke, who responded in a statement to reporters, adding that it would no longer be business as usual for the elite few.
He claims to understand that Eze is attempting to protect his business interests, but now is the time for him to feel the agony of the masses. Okeke encouraged Soludo and Eze to set aside their personal interests and reconsider their decision to not support Peter Obi.
“Go tell it to who cares to hear. It is no longer going to be the dictator’s world or a narrow exclusive circle or group dictating who becomes president in Nigeria.
“Eze, Soludo and whoever wants to play God against this divine mandate should have a rethink.
“We want to respect the personal opinion of any individual, including that of Eze (the Ozigbo Ndu) and any other person with different opinions. But what we can not accept is unfriendly outbursts and intimidations.
“The message to whoever cares to listen is that the next new Nigeria is never going to be business as usual. The moment people begin to adapt, the better. It has been a country between the far rich few and the extreme masses. They destroyed the middle class and made the masses ordinary slaves.
“If our highly respected Eze should go by his adopted name ‘Ozigbo Ndu’, I would have expected him to feel pain when his people are feeling it. The pain in the present Nigeria is a general one and everyone is crying for a genuine change.
“We can understand his personal business interests and effort to remain big, but he has been big from youth till this age, is time to feel the pain of others and sacrifice luxury for a better future.
“Obi is an Anambrarian just like some of you, what is the general opinion of the people of Anambra on Obi’s presidential ambition and not the opinion of two or three persons.
“In this recent time, all the presidential opinion polls conducted have put Obi well above other contenders and this is Nigerians’ opinion.
“If not, the old thinking of many of you with deep pockets who has amassed wealth to seek option of rigging elections, the voice and opinions of the masses will reign supreme.
“I will advise, no insult, keep your opinion to yourself, don’t destabilise the system. Allow a new Nigeria to emerge; it will benefit your kindred, community, your state and all Nigerians.”
