Photo/twitter/PeterObi/status
Supporters of the presidential candidate of Labour Party (LP), and former governor of Anambra State, Mr. Peter Obi, yesterday, trooped out en masse to rally support for their idol, and in the process disrupted vehicular movement in some cities across the country.
The march, which saw thousands of youths pour into the streets, took place in Lagos, Bauchi, Asaba in Delta, Uyo in Akwa Ibom, Calabar in Cross River, and Osogbo in Osun states among others.
By far, Lagos was the worst hit by what looked like a youth-driven populist movement, as traffic disruptions were witnessed in the different locations where the four-million-man march took place. The rally was held simultaneously in four locations – Lekki, Surulere, FESTAC, and Ikeja.
At the generally peaceful outing, participants defied the early morning downpour recorded in many parts of the state before embarking on the road march, wielding placards with diverse inscriptions, waving the LP and Nigerian flags, as well as sang the national anthem and song cheering their candidate also waved the flags.
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The walk overshadowed the Independence Day celebration in the state, which witnessed a very poor turnout at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena, Lagos, as many of the pavilions were empty.
In Kaduna State, supporters of Obi and his running mate, Datti Baba Ahmed took to major roads and also chanted solidarity songs in Support of the Kaduna Governorship hopeful, Jonathan Asake, and the candidate of the party for Chikun/Kajuru Federal Constituency, Ekene Abubukar Adams.
The supporters used the opportunity of the march to embark on the door-to-door campaign in the metropolis. Many of them who spoke to The Guardian lamented that that country requires genuine, stressing that they were ready to carry the campaign to every nook and cranny of the country until the old set of politicians were shown the way out.
Speaking with Journalists during the event, the LP candidate for Chikun/Kajuru Federal Constituency, Ekene said the program is tagged Ekene for Obi movement group with the mandate to sensitise People at the grassroots and to ensure Nigerians do not make another mistake while voting in 2023.
In Osogbo and Ile-Ife towns in Osun State, the supporters popularly called “Obidients” also trooped out to rally in support of Obi.
Some of them wore branded T-shirts branded with the pictures of Obi and his running mate emblazoned on them. The energetic supporters, mostly youths, carried banners and walked from Igbona area to the popular Olaiya junction. Those in Ile-Ife had assembled as Mayfair before matching to Lagere area.
Speaking, one of their coordinators, Peter Onoriode, called on Nigerians to mobilise support for Obi saying: “As you can see this crowd, we are all Nigerians from different parts of this country. Amidst us, we have Yoruba, Igbo, Hausa, and other tribes that you can think of. What we are saying is that it’s time to transform this nation and we have decided to hire Peter Obi and Ahmed Datti for that job.”
In Uyo, the “Obidient Movement” embarked on a two million man, which caused heavy gridlock on Nwaniba road, from the Water Fountain to Ibom Plaza, Ikot Ekpene road, and other major roads in the metropolis.
One of the organisers of the walk and a former chairman, Agulu Peoples Union, Uyo, Mr. Jude Anyanwor, debunked claims that the crowd was a rented one.
According to him, the turnout was a reflection of the number of Nigerians that are agitated by the poor state of things in the country.
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