In Asaba, in Calabar, they walked in the millions on second day of march
By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
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They chanted: “Freedom has come finally. Youths should seize on this God-send opportunity and vote in Peter Obi.”
Older marchers told younger ones: “Our time is fading out. We are doing this for your sake. You had better wake and seize this chance and free yourself from the cabals and corrupt politicians.”
The organisers said: “What we have seen today is beyond description. This is to send a message to other parties who seem to under-rate our strength not to brag any further ….
“You can see that Nigerians are now rooting for Labour Party and indeed Peter Obi.”
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Obidients marched in greater numbers on Monday in Calabar, saying 90 per cent of them have PVCs to carry Peter Obi over the finishing line in the race to Aso Rock; likewise thousands more walked the streets in Asaba.
Both groups delivered on their promise last Saturday to repeat their marches on Monday to strengthen their support for the Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate.
Cross River LP Chairman Ogar Osim, a former Ambassador, said the crowd in Calabar far exceeded 2.5 million. One support group disclosed 90 per cent of its members have Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs).
Calabar is the capital of Cross River where Governor Ben Ayade defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2021. Meaning Ayade’s party does not appeal to the youths, the bulk of Obi supporters.
Asaba is the capital of Delta, a PDP stronghold since 1999, and Governor Ifeanyi Okowa is Atiku Abubakar’s vice presidential candidate in the 2023 ballot. Meaning even Okowa being on the Aso Rock ballot does not appeal to Delta youths.
The PUNCH reports that Obi’s enthusiastic supporters in Asaba, comprising mostly youths, had first staged a road walk last Saturday to galvanise more support for the Obi-Datti ticket, bringing socioeconomic activities to a halt for several hours.
The walk on Monday was not different as members of various support groups in the Obidient Movement converged on Inter Bau Flyover and marched through Nnebisi Road to Traffic Light at Ezinei junction before returning to the starting point.
YES Peter Obi Support Group state Coordinator Kingsley Imoni-Ogbe insisted the former Anambra State Governor is the only one among the contenders who can turn Nigeria around for good.
He said the rally demonstrated the fact Nigerians are tired of old politicians.
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2.5m in Calabar rally
In Calabar, millions of Obi supporters converged on Eleven-Eleven from where they marched through major streets also known as Carnival Route such as Mary Slessor, Marian Road, MCC, and Murtala Mohammed Highway.
The rally caused traffic gridlock for hours but security personnel ensured order, according to reporting by The PUNCH.
They chanted: “Freedom has come finally. Youths should seize on this God-send opportunity and vote in Peter Obi.”
Older marchers told younger ones: “Our time is fading out. We are doing this for your sake. You had better wake and seize this chance and free yourself from the cabals and corrupt politicians.”
Osim said the organisers had estimated two million-man march in support of Obi and the LP but the crowd far exceeded 2.5 million people.
“What we have seen today is beyond description. This is to send a message to other parties who seem to under-rate our strength not to brag any further,” he said.
“You can see that Nigerians are very tired of other parties that bastardise our collective gains and channeled them into selfish paths.
“You can see that Nigerians are now rooting for Labour Party and indeed Peter Obi.”
Peter Obi Integrity Network for Transformation state Coordinator Ofem Etom disclosed the group alone has over 5,000 members who came from all parts of the state for the rally, and 90 per cent of them have PVCs.
