The people of Agulu in Anaocha Local Government Area of Anambra State have marched in support of the aspiration of the Labour Party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi.
The group, in a one-million-man march rally organised in collaboration with the Peter Obi Movement for New Nigeria, attracted sons and daughters of the community, on Saturday.
They moved on the various streets in the community and ended at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Agulu campus where Obi’s campaign banner was unveiled.
While carrying banners with pro-Obi messages, they also dismissed the rumours that members of the community were not in support of Obi’s presidential bid.
Addressing the townsmen and supporters, the President-General of the community, Oliver Afamefuna, described Obi as a proud son of Agulu with integrity and capacity to turn around the country’s ugly trend, insisting that the entire community was in total support of him.
He said, “Nigeria as a nation has been saddened by the dangerous direction and thrown into divisions and crisis in recent times due to bad leadership.
“We cannot afford to give up our nation despite the immense disappointments we have faced. We must no longer leave our nation solely in the hands of our political job men who have shown freighting incapacity to move Nigeria forward and drive us to the precipice.
“When he was the governor of Anambra State, he did well to transform the state. We trust him so much that we believe that every segment of Nigeria will have a new breeze of life when he becomes the president of Nigeria.”
A former lawmaker, Mr Valentine Anyika, said the rally was important to demonstrate to the world that Obi’s own people were solidly behind him.
He dismissed the fears of the election not holding following prevailing insecurity, saying Obi’s sudden emergence after quitting the Peoples Democratic Party had restored a certain level of peace and calmness across the country.
He said, “I worked with Peter Obi as a state legislature and I consider him as one of best prudential managers of both human and material resources. I’m hundred per cent in support of his mission.
“We are here to show solidarity among the OBIdient family. We’re not campaigning yet, but just creating awareness and sensitising the people that we’re for our mentor, brother and leader.
“People are now having a feeling of hope and light at the end of the tunnel. They are now feeling that someone who feels what they feel and stay where they stay will soon sit on the pilot seat.”
The Convener, POMONN, Amaka Obi, described the rally as massive and an indication that the LP Presidential candidate was accepted by his people and has what it takes to deliver dividends of leadership to the country.
In their separate speeches, a member of the community, Eric Maduagwu, said Obi remained the best among equals while Comrade Julius, Sunday Okoye Iloegbunam and Andy Orakwelu said the rally was a show of clear solidarity.
They expressed confidence that Obi will claim a grand slide victory and insisted that his social media popularity will be translated into the actual voting.
Punch