By Tony Adibe
The Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Mr Peter Obi, has visited the family of late Igbo leader, Chief Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu as part of his ongoing nationwide consultation.
Obi, former Anambra Governor, was received at the residence of the renowned Igbo leader in Enugu by his widow, Ambassador Bianca Ojukwu, on Saturday. He said that it was important for him to visit every leader in the country for their blessing and support, since he needed everybody to clearly understand his good intentions for the nation.
He said: “of course for me to do anything especially as I am going around now it is necessary that I have to come and meet my leaders and leaders exist in various spheres of life.
“For me, the most important thing is going around, whether it is a political leader or a religious leader. You plead for their blessings. I need everybody’s blessings. You need everyone to understand you; you must elucidate what you are doing to them and be able to say, I came for this purpose and that is why I am here to see the great Ojukwu’s family.
“I know with her (Ambassador Bianca Ojukwu) own approval and support, comes the approval of Ezeigbo, Chief Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, wherever he is praying for us.”
Obi said that he had met most Igbo leaders and “I am their son”, adding: “So, if you see your son doing well and breaking new grounds; you only have to encourage his effort”.
“I have met with most of our leaders. I am consulting with all of them,” he added.
However, in her reaction, Ambassador Bianca Ojukwu said that among other achievements Obi recorded in Anambra as governor was putting to an end the era of godfatherism in the state.
The former Nigerian Ambassador to Spain, described Obi as one of the most progressive, competent, and transparent politicians in Nigeria today. She said: “What we are moving towards is a very defining and decisive moment in Nigeria’s political history.
“We are seeing a momentum like we have never seen before in the political landscape of the country. And we are seeing a Nigerian of Igbo extraction who has invaded the socio-cultural and political landscape like a hurricane. Of course, Mr Peter Obi, we know of his capacity having been the first two term governor in the history of Anambra State.”
Ojukwu stated that Obi’s emergence and acceptance by Nigerians of all ages and walks of life could be likened to a tsunami. She said: “It is not an easy task for him to have achieved what he has; the level of acceptance, recognition almost like a revolution that Nigeria has never seen in its history.”
“I think at the end of the day, what every Nigerian needs is a responsive government. A government that has an affinity with the masses. A leader that the people can trust.”
“So, I think many of us are looking forward to this election because it will define whether Nigerians are truly sincere about the change that they so desperately need.”
