Imo guber: As soon as they touched me on Sunday, the CP was sacked – LP candidate, Achonu
Imo State, on Tuesday, virtually exploded as the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Mr. Peter Obi, stormed Owerri for the zonal rally of the Party’s flagbearer in the November 11 gubernatorial election in Imo State, Sen. Athan Achonu.
Mr. Obi was accompanied by the Governor of Abia State, Mr. Alex Otti, and other Party chieftains, including Chief Chime Nzeribe and Hon. Tony Okere, Director General and Chairman of the Campaign Council, respectively.
The highly enthusiastic crowd was huge, as both loyalists of the party and supporters of Achonu trooped out in their thousands to hear their preferred candidate speak.
Before arriving the Kanu Nwankwo Sports Centre venue, the campaign train went on a road show through some key streets and markets in the metropolis during which thousands of Imolites hailed them.
The reception at the markets, especially Slabs, was so massive it was difficult to address the highly elated crowd.
The compere of the programme, Chimankpam Anyankpa, urged the people to vote for Achonu to deliver Imo State from the ‘hand of the wicked’.
The immaculately clad band, Chillymore Entertainment, regaled the crowd with customised songs in honour of to the LP candidate and deliverance for the state.
The campaign train arrived at the venue with great flourish, led by a motorcade of tens of power bikers that added colour to the occasion.
The Aku Ruo Ulo women also turned up in their uniforms and welcomed the train with scintillating dances, amidst multiple traditional gun salutes.
The trio of Achonu, Obi and Otti arrived together and moved into the appreciative crowd before mounting the dais.
The Abia Labour Party chairman noted that the task before the people was simply to change a non-performing government. He added that there was no living being in Imo State that do not see the danger in the state. He urged them not only to vote but to also convince and bring others to come out and vote.
“We must pull our people from their homes to vote. Intimidation has expired. We have only one head, and we can only die once. Be determined. Their thugs will be afraid if we come out en masse. They can’t kill anybody. When you come en masse, you can’t be overwhelmed. They cannot kill everyone but nobody will die,” he said.
Hon Tony Okere, chairman of the campaign council and Clinton of the Owerri Municipal Council spoke in a similar vein. Okere told the people to deliver the governorship to Labour Party, as they did the Senate and House of Representatives.
Governor Otti noted that he entered Owerri with great thanks, telling the people that the dye is cast.
He added that no rat could collect something from anybody that is awake. So, he urged the people to remain vigilant.
“Cast your vote and monitor it; do not go to sleep. If you like sleep from now till Friday but stay awake on Saturday till the vote count up to the collation centre. Nothing is better than a good government.”
On that note, Otti brought up Obi whom he described as the game changer of Nigerian politics.
In his brief speech, Obi bemoaned the hunger in the land and the need for change. He noted that suffering is just starting, citing the United Nations that predicted gloom for millions of Nigerians next year.
“Yet, the government is busy making budget for cars and First Lady. Imo needs a caring governor like Otti in Abia. Good government is good for Nigerian.
“There is hunger everywhere. Bread that used to cost N250 now sells for N1000. A bag of rice now costs N70000 – N80000. The Labour Party is for Papa, Mama and Pikin; we care for human beings while other parties have drawings. On Saturday, go and vote for LP, Papa, Mama and Pikin,” he counselled the crowd, who erupted with applause.
The LP flag bearer, Achonu, reiterated that nobody dared point at him, saying immediately they dared him on Sunday, the State Commissioner of Police was booted out.
He said: “Did I not tell you that nobody can point at me? As soon they touched me on Sunday, the Commissioner of Police was sacked. The Tiger Base where they torture people has also been dismantled.
“I promised that I would protect your votes. There will be enough security to help protect your votes.
“Do not just vote; also follow your votes the to the ward collation centres, and from there to the state. There will be vehicles to convey people to follow the votes, with able bodied youths. The Army police, and DSS shall also follow the votes. Don’t be afraid if the presence of security operatives. They are there only to protect the people and their votes. Only vote riggers shall experience their wrath.
“We have already won this election because the plans to rig have been defeated. We have beaten the man; he has gone. There shall be no more burning of houses; no more killings in Imo. What we shall see henceforth is development, development, development.
“You can see the good work Otti is doing in Abia. I shall begin mine in Imo in January. I have already told you what I shall do. There shall be local government autonomy; constant electricity within one year, etc.”
The crowd dispersed greatly relieved by the assurance that they would not be intimidated, and expressed eagerness to come out in their numbers to cast their votes on Saturday.
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