Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has written an emotional letter to his supporters, who are commonly referred to as “the Obidients.”
Obi, who came in third place in the recent presidential election, stated that he and his running mate, Datti Baba-Ahmed, were aware of the suffering experienced by his supporters, including verbal abuse, physical attacks, loss of rights and privileges, and online harassment.
Obi’s statement was published via a series of tweets on his verified Twitter handle on Monday, and it comes after an alleged audio conversation between him and Bishop David Oyedepo of the Living Faith Church.
Peter Obi acknowledged that even those who were once seen as civic leaders and the conscience of the nation had joined in attacking his supporters. He urged them to see the attacks as necessary sacrifices required to create a new Nigeria.
While urging the “Obidients” not to give up or be lured into unnecessary conflicts, Obi assured his team that they remain fully organized, focused, and committed to addressing the country’s problems. The former governor of Anambra State added that he and Baba-Ahmed would use all lawful and peaceful means allowed by the laws and constitution to reclaim their mandate to create a new Nigeria.
Peter Obi on Sufferings, Loss of Rights and Privileges of Obidients
“My Obidients, a very happy Holy Month of Easter and Ramadan to you all. As we celebrate the Easter and look forward to a joyous Eid El Fitr, we pray for God Almighty’s guidance, protection and blessings as we face and pass through a litany of challenges in our dear country, Nigeria- flawed electoral processes, insecurity, weak institutions, multidimensional poverty, unemployment, inflation, lack of justice, fairness, equity, opportunities and many more.
“As we reflect on these challenges and look forward to a New Nigeria that is POssible, Datti and I are painfully mindful that for the mere reason of being OBIdient, most of you have suffered vituperations, physical attacks, loss of rights and privileges, hateful trolls, indignities and vexatious fighting words, even from some of those we long regarded as civic leaders and conscience of our nation. Please bear such attacks as the sacrifices that we are all required to make in order to create a New Nigeria, where justice, equity, fairness, love and prosperity shall reign.”
My Obidients, a very happy Holy Month of Easter and Ramadan to you all. As we celebrate the Easter and look forward to a joyous Eid El Fitr, we pray for God Almighty’s guidance, protection and blessings as we face and pass through litany of challenges in our dear country,
— Peter Obi (@PeterObi) April 10, 2023