Supporters of the presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Mr. Peter Obi, yesterday launched a new socio-political word ‘Obicracy’ at a mega rally on held in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
The word, according to the supporters is a system in which the masses choose a competent leader without structure over incompetent leaders with structures.
The supporters were made up of entertainers, members of a coalition of support groups and other individuals, majorly young people.
Many of the supporters who held the posters of the LP candidate and his running mate, Mr. Yusuf Baba-Ahmed, and had branded vests, marched from the Unity Fountain in the Central Business District to the City Gate leading to the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport road.
A remarkable thing about the launch was the case of newlyweds identified as Mr. and Mrs. Desmond Adamson, who joined the rally.
Punch quoted the groom as saying that he could not afford to miss the rally despite the fact that it coincided with his wedding.
“Knowing that today, which is my wedding, happens to also be the day for the Obidient movement, I told myself that after church service, my partner and I would come straight to join the rally,” he said.
The bride also noted that she and her husband would like to have kids in a country that was free of violence.
“We want to have kids in a country that is free from violence, insecurity, poverty and hardship. That is why I said I must be here today to lend my support to the Obidient movement,” she said.
According to Premium Times, Obi, who along with running mate, Baba-Ahmed was yesterday at the palace of the Emir of Gaya, Aliyu Ibrahim, in furtherance of the nationwide consultations, expressed his delight at the action of his supporters and wished a newly wedded couple who participated in the exercise a fruitful union.
“From Kano, I am watching the OBIdients gathered in Abuja and exercising their constitutional rights to peaceful assembly. I salute you all. I appreciate you all. God bless you all and God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“Salute and congratulations to this newly wedded couple in Abuja, whose special day coincided with the Obidient Family March in Abuja; and they marched too! Wishing you both a blissful and happy married life and children, who will grow up in a united, secure and productive Nigeria,” he tweeted.
Addressing the supporters, Nollywood actor, Mr. Kenneth Okonkwo who was formerly of the All Progressives Congress (APC) said Nigeria had had enough “old men spoiling our destinies.”
“We are here to march for our freedom. Freedom at last! Before now, Nigerians had been living in bondage. But we are no longer living in bondage; we are free.
“Enough of these old men spoiling our destinies. They have spoiled their own destinies; they cannot spoil our own destinies. We have waited enough for them. We can no longer wait.
“We are taking our destinies in our hands. Nigeria should be one of the first in the world, but these evil leaders want to make us last and we are saying no to them.”
Commenting on the rally, the national chairman of the party, Mr. Julius Abure, said the development is indicative of the acceptability level of the LP.
He said the turnout for the Abuja rally did not come to him as a surprise because the party.
“The rallies are not surprising; it is because the Labour Party has a people-oriented candidate that will work for the people and that will effectively serve the interest of the party,”
For him, the rallies showed that the people are driving the process and realise what the party means to them and the future.
“Of course, the people must own the process, the people will fund the process because they say he who plays the pipe dictates the tune. And therefore the people are the owners of the party and that is why they are funding these activities.
“People are contributing money, N1000, N10, 000, and so on to carry out rallies for themselves. People are donating their buildings and the people of Nigeria are gradually owning the Labour Party,” he said in a statement.
