As the 2023 Presidential elections draw nearer, the politicians are upping their efforts to mobilise voters even ahead of the formal campaign season.
On Saturday, several resident of Rivers State, particularly in Port Harcourt, the people defied the early morning rain on Saturday to participate in a planned solidarity march for Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s (LP) presidential candidate.
The “2 Million March for Peter Obi” demonstration was held to promote Mr. Obi, a former aspirant for presidential ticket of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who switched allegiance to the Liberation Party (LP), after the PDP heavily monitised the process.
The solidarity march was also visible on the social media as it was reportedly the reason that Rivers State and Port Harcourt were trending on Twitter early on Saturday.
In a video posted on Twitter, a woman was quoted saying, “Yeah, this is Rivers State. It’s a rainy day, but we are out here for Peter Obi. Nothing can stop us. The rain cannot beat us. We are going to move for Obi.”
The clip also showed young people singing and dancing happily.
Clariform reports that another clip showed a large crowd of supporters waving Labour Party flags and chanting, “Obi! Obi! Obi!”
A Twitter user @multimeverse commented on the march saying, “We are not talking of paid agbero walks or rumors of walks. We are talking of genuine one! Time to take back your country! (sic)”
Clariform reports that a similar march has been organized in the past in other Nigerian cities.
Since his emergence as the Labour Party presidential flag bearer in the forthcoming 2023 presidential election Peter Obi’s popularity has soared high as he has been loved and widely accepted among young people and professionals across Nigeria.
Millions of Nigerians who believe that the elections in 2023 will help reset the country’s struggling economy as well as address poverty and insecurity have taken him seriously when he pledged to shift Nigeria away from a consumption-focused economy to one based on production if elected president.
NOTABLE QUOTE
As the solidarity march was ongoing on Saturday morning, Mr. Peter Obi tweeted, saying:
“We are watching as Port Harcourt, Auchi, Makurdi and Afikpo move OBIdiently today, under the sun and in the rain.”
“Constitutional rights to peaceful assembly are protected and must be respected by all. Our labours will never be in vain. I appreciate you all.”
Clariform recalls that Olusegun Obasanjo, the former president of Nigeria, met with Mr. Peter Obi on Thursday in London, together with Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike, Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom, Abia State Governor Okezie Ikpeazu, and Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde. Donald Duke, a former governor of Cross River State, attended the meeting as well.
