Presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 election, Peter Obi, has said that the ongoing defections by state governors in the South East cannot guarantee the political capture of the zone. He recently revealed that Nigeria is presently a democratic nation; therefore, states cannot be easily captured like when the military was in power.
Speaking to reporters in Abuja, Obi said that the people will ultimately decide where to go, not governors or Senators, and no party will win any state just because it has a governor.
According to him, he believes Peter Mbah’s decision to dump PDP for APC was based on his own political views and calculations, so any alleged plot to capture the South-East is dead on arrival.
He stated that whatever the government does in power will decide whether Nigerians will support it in 2027 or not.
“Peter Mbah is a good friend of mine. And I believe that as governor, he must have taken his decision based on his own political views and calculations.
As for the alleged plot to capture the South-East, we are not in a military time when you capture people. You are a leader. You tend to do the right things for them to follow you. So I don’t think anybody is capturing anywhere.
The government needs to do more if it wants the people to support it,” he said.
On the planned protest for the release of Nnamdi Kanu by political activist Omoyele Sowore, the former Anambra State Governor noted that there is nothing wrong with agitators expressing their human right to speak against a failed system.
Obi concluded by thanking the organisers of the planned October 20 protest, stressing that they have started a good cause.
“I’ve always been consistent on Nnamdi Kanu’s situation.
There was no need for his arrest in the first place. And I’ve always said that for me, I will consult, negotiate and discuss with anybody who is agitating. I said it clearly and I remain there.
I thank those who are actually trying to do or say what we’ve been saying for a long time. Go and check what I’ve said before 2020, 2022 and even 2024.
And now that it has gone to court, the rules should be followed. Not just for Nnamdi Kanu, but for all agitators across the nation. Let’s dialogue with them.
There’s nothing wrong with anybody agitating or saying let’s dialogue with them. And whatever we do with them, let’s follow the rules. So I thank the organisers and those who are involved,” he added.
