–O Adejo
Anambra State Governor Chukwuma Soludo has stated that the Labor Party (LP) presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi, cannot and will not win the 2023 elections. The Governor stated this in an opinion piece titled “History Beckons and I Will Not Be Silent (Part 1)” that he published on Monday.
According to him, he has tried to avoid the social media frenzy surrounding Peter Obi, but he was dragged into it last week when he was asked in an interview how much Peter Obi’s investments in Anambra State are worth today, and he replied that they are worth next to nothing.
Following that interview, he admitted that the mob had come for him and his family, particularly through social media. He went on to say that he has never been one to back down from a fight, so there are some issues he will address.
“Let’s be clear: Peter Obi knows he can’t and won’t win,” the article stated. “He understands the game he is playing, and we understand it as well; and he understands that we understand.” He also stated that, if we are being realistic, only two major parties or individuals will be running in the 2023 elections, with the rest being exciting drama.
According to Governor Soludo, the main losers from Peter Obi’s rise are the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), because he is popular in areas where votes would have naturally shifted to the PDP. However, he stated that people should not be attacked or labelled as anti-Igbo because they do not support Peter Obi.
He gave examples of how Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso of the NNPP and Atiku Abubakar of the PDP are both from the North and running for office, but no one is accusing them of being anti-North because of their support. He also recalled how, in 1999, both President Obasanjo and Bola Tinubu were from the South West, and while their political ideologies differed, no one was accused of being anti-South West.
He also stated that the poverty and unemployment rate in Anambra State was 53% during Peter Obi’s tenure as governor, but 14% under Governor Willie Obiano. According to him, the duty of the government is to use the state’s resources to help people rather than to save money in the bank while people are poor or dying.
Finally, he stated, “As my brother, I wish him well and even pray for him. During his courtesy call, I told him that my hope is that he or Prof. Umeadi of the APGA will win. So why not?
“That is from my heart, but I also told him that my head and facts on the ground led me to believe that the likelihood is near zero (what I cannot say in front of you, I will not say behind you).
“So I already told him what I thought. Indeed, there is no plausible path for him to be near the top two positions, and if care is not taken, he will not even be near the third position.”
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