The Coalition of Obidient Movement groups in Edo State has applauded 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi, who is the driving force behind the movement, for validating its position that members are at liberty to vote for any political party of their choice in the September governorship election in the state.
Ahead of the election, some Obidients groups in the state had argued that they are free to support any person who meets the philosophy behind the movement, as they are not bound by partisan considerations. Some of them had thrown their weight behind candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dr. Asue Ighodalo, saying that they believe in justice, equity, fairness, competence, capacity and character. They had argued that the Obidient Movement was never tied to the apron string of any political party.
In a statement on Sunday in Benin City, the state capital, the coalition leaders, Alphonsus Osagie and
Ehizokhale Aiwanfoh said that members were relieved that Obi had put to rest the “shenanigans of some people” parading themselves as “Obidients only on account of their support for Olumide Akpata, the candidate of the Labour Party in the state”.
The statement read: “We the Coalition of Edo Obidient Movement groups have received our leader, Mr. Peter Obi’s clear and emphatic message distancing the Obidient Movement from any political party in Nigeria.
“First, we want to express our immense gratitude to our great leader, His Excellency, Mr Peter Obi for finally making an official clarification on this matter and thereby laying to rest the shenanigans of some impostors parading themselves as ‘Obidients’ on account of their support for Edo Labour Party candidate, Olumide Akpata, when the latter had never associated himself with the Obidient Movement prior to this election season.
“Once again, Mr Peter Obi has demonstrated the courage, honesty and forthrightness that endeared him to all of us Obidients.
“In his clear words, ‘the Obidient Movement is a diverse and inclusive collective that transcends traditional, political, religious, and ethnic affiliations. It is not domiciled within any particular party or headquartered in any particular part of the country….’
“In Edo State, we have been sounding it to anyone who cared to listen that the Obidient Movement is not Labour Party and therefore not bound to support any candidate paraded by the party especially Olumide Akpata whose candidacy violates all the cardinal principles upon which Obidient movement was conceived and founded.
“We want to use this medium to profoundly express our gratitude to Peter Obi for reaffirming and reiterating the core Obidient values of honesty, integrity and transparency which Akpata compromised in his now infamous dollarised LP primaries in Edo.
“We thank Mr. Peter Obi for re-emphasising the need for equity, fairness, justice and inclusivity, which Akpata clearly neglects by his inordinate desire to succeed his cousin, incumbent Governor Godwin Obaseki against popular consensus that power must shift to Edo Central.
“We thank Mr. Peter Obi for reaffirming the principles of loyalty and commitment which Akpata had never demonstrated to the Obidient movement prior to his guber ambition. He was no where to be found during our campaign for a new Nigeria under the leadership of our visionary leader, Mr. Peter Obi during the 2023 general elections.
“Finally, we thank Mr. Peter Obi for vindicating our principled stand and position to stand for competence, character, compassion, equity, fairness and justice in Edo State”.
