Obi’s anti-Ihedioha protest is stirring up a commotion in Abia. The controversy over former Governor of Imo State, Chief Emeka Ihedioha’s recent comments about Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, has sparked outrage among pro-Obi groups in Abia. Obi’s supporters who staged a protest on Monday the 10th of October in Umuahia, are calling for certain conditions to be met by the former Governor Ihedioha before moving forward. These conditions are that Ihedioha upholds Obi’s values by publishing an apology to Ndigbo on national dailies and via national television and radio houses before his apologies would be accepted.
With tensions running high and passions running deep, it remains to be seen whether or not this conflict can be resolved peacefully. As the political winds continue to shift across the country, tensions are mounting in the state of Abia, where Obi has become the center of an increasingly heated backlash. The controversy erupted following comments by former Governor of Imo State, Chief Emeka Ihedioha, who had sparked outrage with a viral video that was construed as conspiring against Obi’s bid for political power.
In the clip, Ihedioha appeared to use inflammatory language and divisive rhetoric to denounce Obi and his supporters. During their New Yam festival in Ghana, Ihedioha allegedly stated while addressing his Mbaise kinsmen that “any Igbo who votes for Obi or against Atiku Abubakar of the PDP is a saboteur”. While adding that only the emergence of Atiku as Nigeria’s President in 2023 would pave way for a future Igbo President in Nigeria. His remarks elicited swift outcry from Obi’s people in Abia and beyond, with many taking to the streets in protest and demanding an apology from Ihedioha.
Despite these efforts, however, it seems that presidential candidate Peter Obi has no plans of backing down anytime soon. With his sights set firmly on achieving political victory. Whether or not Obi will ultimately succeed remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: he has captured the hearts and minds of many in Abia with his bold determination and unwavering resolve, whose supporters believe needs to be respected and valued together with the other presidential candidates.
