By Julius Oweh The surge of youths across the length and breadth of the nation to get their permanent voters cards is traceable to one factor – Obi phenomenon. Whether you like it or not, Peter Obi is the most popular politician today, at least, in the social media. The buzz word is that the older politicians have failed the nation and that it is time for the youths to take over the destiny of the nation. The fear in some quarters is that whether this popularity in the virtual world of social media can be translated into votes for the former Anambra state governor and a world class business man. The youths are dissatisfied with both the PDP and the APC and now see Peter Obi of the Labour Party as the savior that could bring an end to many years of sufferings in midst of plenty. The truth of the matter is that Nigeria is too rich to be poor. The kernel of this political message is that given the enormous wealth of the nation, there is no single reason why Nigerians should live in the gutter of poverty and Nigeria is infamous as the world capital of poor people. It is only hoped that Obi shall change this ugly political narrative. Let us pause a bit and critically look at the man, Obi. He came into political limelight when he contested on the platform of APGA using the name of Dim Chukwumeka Ojukwu. His eight years in power transformed Anambra state and no pensioner was owed a dime. During the current political dispensation, he joined the PDP but the stench of money politics pushed him out the way a man would run away from maggots infested pit latrine. Today he is in Labour Party that unfortunately does not have structures across the length and breadth of the country. I tried to locate the state party secretariat in Asaba and it was quite a herculean job. The message is that people are only routing for Obi only in the social media. If there are no party structures at the state and local government levels, no magic wand can transform Obi into the next president. Therefore it stands to reason that the Obi political handlers should move beyond the social media. Social media do not vote. It is people who cast votes and such people should be mobilized. If you support Obi on the social media, come down to the world of reality and mobilize people in your community, ward and local government levels. If that is done, the prospect of Obi becoming the next president will begin to have a semblance of reality. The energy used in the social media campaign should also be used in the real world by engaging in door to door campaign and establishing presence in your neighborhood and ward levels. The two major political parties, the PDP and APC are berating Obi and his Labour Party for they know the party does not have concrete structures. If you close your laptop, your smart phone and tablet, that is the end of Obi political calculation. This is the reality and those gunning for Obi should wake up from the social media delusion. Let the facts be stated in stunning clarity. Peter Obi towers above Atiku Abubakar and Bola Tinubu both in integrity and education. He has a degree in philosophy from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka and he made his first million as an undergraduate. He is a shrewd businessman who does not throw money around because he worked for every kobo. He may be stingy in the words of Rev. Father Mbaka but Nigerians need such person to fix the economy. He is clear on what he wants to do for the nation. He is on a rescue mission and should not be cast in the prism of an Igbo man. Those trying to make Obi look like an Igbo are making a serious error of judgment. In the same vein to link Obi to the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra is cheap blackmail. Obi has pledged time without number of his faith in the Nigerian federation and should not be linked to IPOB. Even the organization has said that it has nothing to do with Peter Obi. Even more despicable and absurd is the political arrogance of Rabiu Kwankwaso of New Nigeria Peoples Party that Obi should be his running mate. Obi wants to be the next president and he has clear ideas on how to tackle the many problems plaguing the country. And last week, he unveiled his running mate to tell Nigerians that his mission was on course. The running mate is Senator Yusuf Datti Baba Ahmed from Kaduna State. He is the founder of Baze University of Abuja with chains of university degrees. Obi said that with his running mate, the Labour Party was scout ready to dare the PDP and APC and provide a third credible alternative. Said Obi:This is our right to secure, unite and make Nigeria productive. And you cant do that without having people who have similar visions, ideas and are prepared for the task. So I have the honour today to present to you, God willing, Nigerias next vice president in the person of Senator Yusuf Datti Baba Ahmed`.
There are pledges of people of goodwill across the length and breadth of the country to support Obi in cash and kind. It is the duty of such people to impress on the Labour Party to field candidates for the National Assembly, state elections because as our elders would say, a tree cannot make a forest. The energy displayed on the social media for supporting Obi, the energy in getting voters card, if the same energy is used by the youths in Nigeria on Election Day, Obi may emerge the next president of Nigeria. I wish him all the best in his drive to change the fortunes of Nigerians and put smiles on their faces disfigured by many years of misrule.
