Labour Party (LP) candidate in the February 25, 2023 presidential election, Mr. Peter Obi, has warned opponents and critics alike against mistaking his meekness and tendency to respect others as his weakness, stating that despite such mistaken perception, he would always remain focused and respectful in dealing with others, whether big or small, old or young, men or women.
Speaking in Awka over the weekend at the installation of Prof. Kemdilim Nonyelu as the 8th District Governor of Rotary International, District 9142, Obi, who was confronted with an allegation by his former supporter and one of his campaign spokespersons, Mr. Kenneth Okonkwo, that the national leader of the LP appeared too weak to control the party, said he had often been underestimated and perceived as weak by some critics and supporters alike, since the beginning of his political career, but that he never allowed such ‘a wrong’ perception of him to deter him, preferring instead to stay focused, respectful, and undistracted as long as he believed he was on the right track.
“I have never engaged in the politics of ‘tigbue zogbue’ (violence), and I will not start now,” he declared.
Obi cautioned Nigerians against attempting to influence or dictate what the youth should do during the upcoming demonstration against hardship and bad governance, denying, however, the accusation by some government spokespersons that he was even contemplating, let alone sponsoring or actually carrying out the protest.
Tagged #Endbadgovernance, supporters of the protest say the idea is to draw attention to the hunger, mass unemployment, inflation, corruption, poverty, looting, and lack of accountability, ravaging the land.
According to Obi, while young people should be free to express themselves and pursue their dreams, their actions must also always be carried out within the boundaries of law and legality.
He, therefore, urged them to keep their activities peaceful and organised, emphasising the importance of constructive engagement in effecting meaningful change.
Speaking to the importance of educating youths on their rights and responsibilities as citizens, Obi encouraged young people to always use constitutional means to express their concerns, urging the older generations and leaders, for their part, to listen to and support the youth in their efforts to make meaning out of their lives.
Pointing out that poor leadership often affects the youths the most, the former Anambra Governor argued that respecting youth independence and giving them opportunities to lead and contribute to national development is very critical to the country’s development, innovation, and progress.
