Supporters of the 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Mr Peter Obi, in Abia State, have called on former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, to shelve his rumoured presidential ambition in 2027, and throw his weight behind Obi to pick the presidential ticket of the coalition African Democratic Congress, ADC.
Vanguard Newspaper reports that the supporters popularly known as the ‘Obidents’, made the appeal during their mega rallies on Saturday to mark Obi’s 64 birthday.
The peaceful rally daubed ‘one million man-march for Obi’, held simultaneously in Umuahia, Aba, Ohafia and Uzuakoli towns respectively.
Addressing newsmen in Umuahia, the Abia State Chairman of the Organising Committee and one of the Coordinators of the Obidients in the state, Dr Chibuzor Obiesili, appealed to Atiku to sacrifice his presidential ambition in support of Obi, who he said has the quick fix to Nigeria’s challenges if given the opportunity.
Dr Obiesili acknowledged the efforts and contributions of the former Vice President to move Nigeria forward, but strongly appealed to him to take the back seat and support Obi’s presidential bid.
He commended Atiku and other opposition figures for forming the coalition against President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid, but advised the coalition to cede its presidential ticket to the South.
He noted that the movement is rooting for the former Anambra State Governor becauses of his pedigree, track record of integrity and national appeal.
According to him, Obi’s consistent advocacy for the poor and oppressed masses of Nigeria had endeared him to many across party, religious and ethnic lines.
