Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia
Supporters of the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Mr Peter Obi, popularly known as the ” Obedient Movement,” have threatened legal action against those behind the purported endorsement of Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, for Abia South senatorial race in 2023, hiding under the umbrella of the movement.
The Movement denied endorsing Ikpeazu who they said had preformed abysmally for any senatorial contest in 2023.
It described the said report as misleading and mischievous.
In a release jointly signed by the Coordinators, Onyelucheya Prince; Onyebuchi Chukwu; and Secretary, Precious Ogueri; the ‘Obi Movement’ accused PDP agents of impersonating the “Obidients” during the rally.
The “Obidients” who said that Gov. Ikpeazu lacked the qualities needed to be associated with the movement, urged members of the public to discountenance the purported report.
The release made available to Ikengaonline read in part: “The attention of the conveners of the just-concluded ‘Obidient Rally’ held in Aba, Abia State, has been drawn to a report claiming that the conveners of the movement have endorsed the senatorial ambition of Governor Okezie Ikpeazu to represent the good people of Abia South Senatorial District in the senate come 2023.
“Ordinarily, we would have ignored that repulsive report since the ‘Obidient Movement’ has not been known for endorsing candidates yet, let alone endorsing a Governor and senatorial candidate who represents failure in governance, but because our silence could be seen as an endorsement of that false report.
“Explicitly, we wish to state as follows: That the report that the Conveners of the ‘Obidient Movement’ in Abia have endorsed Governor Ikpeazu for senate is false, unfounded, malicious, misleading and highly provocative because it never happened and will never happen. The public should completely disregard it.
“That those quoted to have spoken to the press as Conveners of the rally are PDP agents who have no business with the ‘Obidient Movement,’ and played no role in organizing the rally.
“We have three known key leaders who arranged and got the necessary approvals from the Police, DSS and other Law Enforcement Agencies for the rally, therefore those whose names are being publicized as Leaders of the ‘Obidient Movement’ who endorsed Ikpeazu for Senate are criminally minded impostors who have been sponsored to impersonate the ‘Obidient Movement’ and mislead the public.
“We could not have endorsed Ikpeazu for Senate because he represents the exact opposite of what the ‘Obidient Movement’ stands for.
“The inspiration behind the ‘Obidient Movement’ and the presidential candidate of Labour Party, Mr. Peter Obi, represents integrity and excellence in private and public service.
“He manifested these to the fullest while he held sway as Anambra State Governor where he left footprints of verifiable performance in almost every sector of the Anambra economy.
“As governor, Mr. Peter Obi cleared arrears of salary, pension and gratuity owed Anambra workers and pensioners prior to his emergence as governor.
“He built hospitals and equipped them. Built many access roads, especially in the rural areas to make life meaningful for rural dwellers.
“He equipped every Anambra Public School with modern computers and made mouth watering financial donations to Schools and Churches to enable them advance the place of education in Anambra.
“Obi neither borrowed any money nor left any debt behind, rather he left massive assets in cash and investment for Ndi Anambra etc.
“However, in Abia, Ikpeazu has not only misgoverned and wrecked every facet of the state economy, but is leaving behind a battered economy, a frightening debt profile and an impoverished state and people.
“So, we ask again: how could a pro-people and pro good governance group like the ‘Obidient Movement’ endorse Ikpeazu for Senate when there are more competent people gunning for the same position?
“So, Ikpeazu and his allies cherish excellence, and desire to reap the fruits associated with good name and performance, yet have refused to honestly work to write his name in gold?”
