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Grace Izilien
Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Labour Party LP in the 2023 presidential election has been admonished to ditch sense of entitlement and work to earn his presidential ambition.This was contained in a statement made available by a group, South-South Emerging Leaders’ Forum SELF.
In a signed statement issued in Abuja through its National Coordinator, Comrade Benjamin Kolowei, the group advised Mr Obi against threats and blackmail to emerge as the coalition’s presidential candidate.
While backing the coalition’s opposition party, African Democratic Congress ADC, it asked that the process be thrown open for all interested aspirants, and elect most competent and acceptable flag bearer.
The group warned that Mr Obi could, like 2023, walk out on the coalition before the party’s presidential primary election, if he fails to clinch its ticket on a platter.
“We note with great concern that Mr Peter Obi and his Obidient Movement, in recent times, have resorted to threatening and blackmailing the leadership of the coalition. We make bold to tell the former Anambra governor that such strategy will not work.
“Why is Peter Obi afraid of open and transparent primary election?”, Kolowei queried.
“Record has shown that Mr Obi has a history of running away for primary election, which is the major aspect of democratic culture. If Mr Obi claims to be a democrat, why is he always avoiding primary elections? Why is he looking for a free presidential ticket? He did that as a governor and as recent as 2022, Mr Obi abandoned PDP when it was time for primary election.
“As a forum of professionals and emerging leaders, we will not fold our hands and tolerate Peter Obi to frustrate the ongoing arrangement to rescue our nation and have a credible alternative to the APC.
“We, hereby, call on Mr Peter Obi to stop his pretentious lifestyle as if he is a saint or the only messiah Nigeria is waiting for. If Mr Obi wants to participate in a democratic contest, he should respect the rules of the game.
“Obi and his Obidients should learn early that democracy is about contest, not freebie.
“If Obi is looking for where he will be given a free presidential ticket, the door is open.”
According to SELF, it is aware that Mr Obi Peter Obi is not ready to cooperate and work with coalition leaders”, and has secured another platform which he will soon unveil to contest in 2027.
SELF called on the Senator David Mark-led interim leadership of the ADC to remain steadfast and restrict any pressure of zoning the party’s presidential ticket to a particular geopolitical region, adding that Nigerians should be empowered to decide who governs them.
“We are appealing that the ADC national leadership should ensure a credible and transparent primary election that will produce an acceptable candidate. Whoever wins the party’s primary should be massively supported by all.” SELF declared.
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