“We noted that we were in opposing political parties and in response to my direct question as to how I might help him, he requested that I should just ensure a “level playing field” and let the people decide” (Charles Chukwuma Soludo)
After begging him to come to your party and collect the Presidential ticket and he refused, You then asked him how you can help him.
He didn’t ask you to fund his campaign .
He didn’t ask you to campaign for him.
He didn’t ask you to rig for him.
He didn’t ask you to hide his secret.
He only asked you to ensure a level playing ground.
This is exactly the character that has endeared millions of Nigerians to Mr. Peter Obi.
This is why your boss Olusegun obasanjo is behind him.
This is why Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala is behind him.
This is why Obiageli Oby Ezekwesili is behind him.
This is why Pat Utomi is behind him.
This is why the Afenifere, the oldest political organization headed by a 94 years old man is behind him.
This is why the Northern Elders Forum is behind him.
This is why the Middle belt Forum is behind him.
This is why the Southern Professionals are behind him.
This is why Professor Uzodinma’s Alaigbo Development Foundation is behind him.
This why Ohaneze is behind him.
This is why the Zana Goni led North East Elders for Peace and Development are behind him.
This is why the Prof Abdulkadir Mohammed Gummi led Coalition of Northern Elders For Peace and National Unity are behind him.
This is why the Muhammed Gwadabe led Coalition for Arewa youths are behind him.
This is why a billionaire northern youth Like Issac Balami from Borno state will come out and say “I have sold my majority stake in my aircraft hangar as well as my airline, to join my fellow Nigerians in the Obidient movement, just so I can more dedicatedly fight this struggle to rescue the soul of this great nation”
This is why northern youths will chant Obi kererenke inside the bowels of Arewa house.
This is why the revered Oba of Benin almost broke his official neutrality tradition by making very positive statements about Obi in his palace.
This is why he receives standing ovations from the NBA to the ICAN conferences, from churches to mosques, from the youths to the aged.
He has spoken at Harvard. He has spoken at Oxford. He recently featured at the Lagos Business School.
Saying the same things; I won’t steal a penny of public money . I had opportunity for eight years and I didn’t steal any. I had the opportunity to acquire land and I didn’t. I reduced the cost of governance and made sure nobody stole . I gave priority to education . I was number one in health care . I was number one in security. I won an award on critical infrastructure. I left 50 million dollars each in three banks . I invested money in several companies. Nobody, including Soludo has been able to dispute these.
Hate him or love him, Peter Obi has become the new standard for public officers and political conduct in Africa .
There will always be counter revolutionaries in every revolution, but the revolution will come.
~~Kalu Idika Kalu, Former Economic Adviser to the World Bank and Former Nigeria’s Minister of Finance.
