The Nigerias commercial nerve center, Lagos, was thrilled on Saturday as the Presidential Candidate of the Labor Party (LP) Mr. Peter Obi’s campaign train arrived in the city
The excitement of the people was visible as the whole city was shut down by jubilant youths, women, and adults struggling to catch a glimpse and hear from one of the forerunners in the Presidential election due in a fortnight.
The LP Candidate visited some markets and engaged in road works along strategic areas in the commercial city to ensure that all parts of Lagos were engulfed in the Obi euphoria before finally converging at the Tafawa Balewa Square to the warm embrace of another very massive crowd of Obi-Datti supporters.
Obi-Datti Media in a statement indicated that attempts to frustrate the rally by some hoodlums and hirelings failed, although Lagos Police Command confirmed that four persons were injured and many vehicles damaged by the gangsters ostensibly engineered by political opponents.
All through Alaba International Market in the Ojo area through Festac to Apapa, Ikeja through Maryland to Onipanu to Surulere among others, there was endless dancing and singing of ‘Obi Kerere nke’, all the way.
At all the strategic places, Obi addressed the crowd preaching non-violence electioneering and promising a new Nigeria where the people will sojourn in peace.
The LP flag bearer who was overwhelmed and humbled by the show of love described the massive crowd and the enthusiasm as awesome.
He condemned any form of brutality and called on the youths to eschew violence, “As we go into the final stretch for the 2023 elections, I call on all Nigerians regardless of political affiliation or tendency, to eschew violence. I condemn any form of violence or political thuggery; and esp?00ecially the incessant attack on my Obidient supporters”
Obi also called on the security forces nationwide to protect those exercising their fundamental rights of free speech and assembly, warning that the people’s civil space must not shrink further than it is already.
At the rally, Obi told Lagosians that he and Datti are coming to revolutionize governance and create a new Nigeria where people will be secured to live harmoniously in peace.
The former Anambra state Governor told the visibly excited and thrilled crowd that he and his Vice are more qualified than anybody in the race in so many ways; competence, capacity, antecedents, and capabilities. Both of them coming from the private sector have paid their dues successfully and have no dented records as their past in all areas is verifiable.
He said that they will take Nigeria away from sharing to producing in line with their consumption-to-production policies which are intended to provide jobs to millions of youths in their productive age and through that pull people out of poverty.
Speaking specifically about Lagos, the nation’s commercial hub, Obi said that in revolutionizing governance, the hiccups at the seaports will be rectified and enabling environment created for businesses.
The LP flag bearer reminded the mammoth crowd that February 25, 2023, Presidential election is going to be different, it’s going to be based on competence, character, and competence of candidates not on tribe, religion, or my turn. It’s the turn of Nigerians to take back their country and reposition it for a huge role in the comity of nations.
Other speakers at the rally, Vice Presidential candidate Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmad, LP National Chairman, Bar Julius Abure among others, buttressed the fact that a secured new Nigeria is possible through Obi-Datti and the Labour Party