12th March, 2023
By Okafor Ofiebor/Port Harcourt
Some supporters of Peter Obi, the Labour Party presidential candidate, popularly known as ‘Obidients’ have endorsed the governorship candidate of All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) candidate in Rivers, Prince Ugo Beke, ahead of the 18 March gubernatorial and state houses of assembly elections.
The Obidients declared support for the APGA governorship candidate during their visit to his campaign office in Port Harcourt on Saturday.
Speaking at the event, the leader of the group, Comrade Jeremiah Odama, said that Obidients represent a movement for positive change in Nigeria.
He further said that the Obidients in Rivers state have scrutinized all the candidates of the political parties and came to the conclusion that Prince Ugo Beke stands tall among other candidates in terms of competence,character and integrity as spelt out by their leader, Peter Obi.
He appealed to Obidients in all nooks and crannies of the state to come out and effect the change Rivers people have been clamouring for.
He also said that Obidients will take over Rivers state through Ugo Beke.
He also urged obidients in Rivers not to succumb to enticement with from PDP and the governor of Rivers state who, according to him, have kept them in their present situation.
He said Obidients will shock PDP on March 18.
Responding, Prince Beke, urged all indigenes and non- indigenes to vote massively, assuring that he would not disappoint them if elected governor.
He said every political party is associating with Obidients now to trick the populace to vote for them.
He, however, pointed out that the parties lack competence, character and integrity.
He assured them that he is different and that he believes and agrees with them that Obidients is not about Labour Party, but a movement for a change.
“The obidient movement is all about freedom, accountability of a system and responsibility .
”It is not restricted to one particular political party. It is general will of the people; a general understanding of Nigerians on how to get us back to where we were and also push us forward to global standard and where our future and future of our children can be guaranteed.
”What Peter Obi did as governor in Anambra state is what has catapulted him to this level of national acceptance. Anambrarians, the Igbo and everybody talk about his good leadership qualities, selflessness and simple nature”, he stated.
Speaking further, the APGA governorship candidate thanked them for supporting him and said that together they will take over Rivers State.
Some of the Obidient group leaders who spoke in an interview with our correspondent, said that the caliber of persons vying for governorship of the state was important and an issue in the election, pointing out that Prince Beke has the quality to seamlessly govern the oil-rich state.
On his part, the Chairman of Ohanaeze Youths Council, Mr. J. Joe, noted Prince Beke is a man of integrity who is parallel of Peter Obi in Rivers state
He pledged his group’s readiness to work in tandem with every individual or group for optimum success.
”We have been seeking for good life as far as Rivers state is concerned and we have been shopping for a better candidate than what we have always had . We all know what is happening in Rivers state. We felt that all hands must be on deck. We have been looking for a candidate and person with integrity who is parallel of Peter Obi in Rivers state. We have found Prince Ugo Beke . So, we are going to rally round him. He is erudite and exude a lot of ideas”, he said.
Also on his part, the immediate past Coordinator of House-to-House Concept for Peter Obi and current Coordinator of Concerned Clergies and Citizens for Peace, Rev Richard Ihunwo, said that his group believes that Prince Beke has been ordained by God to bring smiles to the faces of deprived Rivers people.
He reiterated their preparedness to work assiduously and conscientiously for the victory of the APGA candidate come March 18.
”I served as a State Coordinator for House-to-House Concept for Peter Obi and now I am the Coordinator of Concerned Clergies and Citizens For Peace. This is an organization that has a spread across the 23 LGAs.
‘What has attracted us to Prince Ugo Beke is that he is a man of vision. He believes in making other people’s life better. It is not that there are no other candidates. Yes, there are, but you know among the lots, you must always find an exceptional person. So, we consider him as an exception.
”We are going to spread the message of hope and let people see reason. We did it for Peter Obi. We will do it for Ugo Beke.
” I tell you the truth, I have never been a member of Labour party in the state. I have been a support group leader for Obi. At the state level, we need a change and that change would have come through Labour party but I see that the party is already being held in their testicles and neck. So, APGA is the best alternative”, he maintained.
On her part, Mrs. Victoria Bonnie, also said her group believes Prince Beke has the integrity, competence and character to change Rivers state into a land of prosperity, progress and accelerated development.
‘Her words, ”I am from Opobo/Nkoro LGA. The reason why I am standing with this man, Prince Ugo Beke is because he has integrity.
”We have listened to him talk, he convinced us that he is not going to dump the youths by the wayside. He is not going to make girls go into prostitution because of lack and hunger. He is not going to make the boys to start stealing and kidnapping.
”He is going to make them have a better future. And if you have a better future, there will be a better Rivers state. and if there is a better Rivers state, there will be better Nigeria and I want a better Rivers state because I am a mother.
”I would not want my children to go through what many people have been through where you need to sleep with a man to afford a meal and if you don’t do that they will see you as a less privilege. So, I have to be seen like one person that do not exist.
” I don’t want to be in that kind of future. It’s in the past. It should remain in the past because I don’t know if my children will have the strength to face what I went through.I don’t want them to pass through that in Rivers state.
”Enough is enough. Enough of the guns and prostitution. Where I stay, around my vicinity, you will see little girls into prostitution. While I was growing up, it used to be old women sitting down there for prostitution. But these days, you will see little children. Some of them are of the age of my children. It breaks and hurts me. I don’t want to see that so I am standing with this man, Ugo Beke and saying no more of these things. It is APGA all the way.
”We will go to churches, markets and other places to sensitize people, telling them that this man is like Peter Obi and has the same heart as him”,she said.
The occasion was graced by leaders and members of the following obidient groups; Peter Obi Support Network, Ijaw Ladies in Port Harcourt, Youths in Focus, Wakirike/ Obolo group, Ohanaeze Youths Council, PFN among others.
A cross section of Obidients who stormed the office of All Progressive Grand Alliance,APGA, Office in Port Harcourt to pledge support for the party during and after the election