Arguably, the 2023 presidential election can now be dubbed a three-horse race following the emergence of Mr Peter Obi of the Labour Party.
Although Obi will be contesting the election as the underdog according to many, there were signs on Thursday in Osun State that he shouldn’t be ignored.
Peter Obi’s arrival in Osun State to campaign for his party’s governorship candidate, Lasun Yusuf, ahead of July 16th gubernatorial polls in the state begot a wide belief that the 2023 presidential elections won’t be a walk in the park for the likes of the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his counterpart in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar.
Apparently, Nigerians were stunned by the massive crowd Peter Obi’s presence in Osun State pulled.
@Joshua Philip reacted saying: “Peter Obi’s movement has just started but you could see the turnout. massive crowd welcomed him.”
Another concerned Nigerian wrote: “This will surely cause the concerns of Atiku and Tinubu ahead of 2023.”
Unexpected Crowd Welcome Peter Obi In Osun State
Myriad of Nigerians reacted to the massive crowd that greeted Peter Obi, who stormed Osun State to campaign for Lasun Yusuf, his party’s candidate in the July 16 governorship elections.
Citing comments, the crowd clearly bent the narrative that Peter Obi is contesting the presidential elections in 2023 as the underdog: a big worry for other presidential candidates.
Many now see Obi as a strong contender in the elections not just the least likely to win.
See Reactions
@AluyoCollins: “What a crowd!!!! haven’t seen this type anywhere before. This is great. LP will win massively.”
@Morris Monye wrote: “Once MR Obi speaks to this people. The virus will start spreading. Man knows how to mobilize and win hearts.
The Labour Party’s presidential candidate’s visit to Osun comes shortly after a group, Organisation for Global Youths Peace Empowerment and Development Initiative, submitted that the choice of APC and PDP presidential candidates’ running mates will pave way for his victory in the 2023 general election.
In a statement on Wednesday, the group’s National Coordinator, Japhet Omene, said APC and PDP have made a blunder.
The statement read in part: “It is not a surprise that a lot of Nigerians are already seeing Atiku as an unserious person and as someone who does not heed counsel
“Tinubu on the other hand committed the worst political blunder by choosing to disregard the sensitive nature of Nigeria’s religious diversity.
“The APC Presidential candidate wilfully committed the worst political blunder by his choice of a Muslim-Muslim ticket which is already dividing Nigeria across religious line.
“Nigerians are now left with no other choice than to massively vote for Peter Obi who has been prudent in ensuring that Nigerians do not find faults in his candidacy.”
Peter Obi Corrects Wrong Impressions, Tells Nigerians Who They Should Vote For In 2023
Mr Obi on Wednesday, corrected some wrong impressions carried by Nigerians who describe the forthcoming presidential elections as a contest between tribes,
Noting that Nigerians should not vote for him because he is from the South-East nor vote for anybody because the person is from the West, North or south, Obi implored the electorates to vote for human beings who have conscience and trust.
The Labour Party’s presidential candidate, who stated this on Wednesday in a remark at the on going National Convention of the Assemblies of God Nigeria at Okpoto, Eboni State, was quoted by Vanguard as saying:
“Put all of us on a scale, let’s know who we are, let’s ask questions who we are; let’s verify who we are.
“Don’t say: Because Peter Obi is from the South East, will vote for him. Do not vote for me because I’m an Igbo man. Don’t vote for anybody because he is from the West. Do not vote for anybody because he’s from the North.
“This is time to vote for a human being who has conscience and trust”.
As reactions trail, @Malik on Facebook wrote: “Exactly, not dubious minded set of criminals who want to milk Nigeria to the last.”
@Nworie Christy: “The truth is that we all need a man with conscience to pilot the affair of this country nnt nl man that hie sense of reasoning has expired again we refuse to be used by the used rag Obi we know,
@Ruger Des: “But, without being sentimental or sounding tribalistic, Peter Obi remains the best candidate to pilot the affairs of this country.
“Perhaps you need to be informed that Peter Obi was the first Nigerian to go to Kenya and invested with Naira. That’s why their capital city is called Narobi.”