From Esther Akaa, Lafia
About 56 support groups in Nasarawa state have organised a one-million-man march in support of the presidential candidate of Labour Party, Peter Obi, come 2023.
Speaking on Saturday during the solidarity march, state Chairman of Labour Party, Alexander Emmanuel said the one-million-man march was held to sensitise the people of the state on the need to elect credible leaders in the 2023 general elections, as well as to prove a point to other political parties, who had alleged that the Labour Party does not have a structure.
Emmanuel, who expressed optimism that the party will win the 2023 presidential election and all elective positions in Nasarawa state, noted that residents were tired of bad governance and were ready to vote for Mr Obi and other candidates of the party come 2023.
“I accepted the request of the support groups to embark on this sensitisation rally because I want the people to understand the need why they should elect credible leaders into office in 2023, and it is also to prove a point to other political parties who always say that our supporters are only on the social media.
“They usually say that our party does not have a structure but what I understand by the word structure, is the people. We are not worried about whatever they are saying because we have the people with us. In 2023, many of these bad leaders will be shocked because Nigerians are ready and waiting for them with their permanent voter cards,” he said.
On his part, Secretary coalition of the support groups for Peter Obi in the state, Wilson Kingsley, mentioned the groups to include; Peter Obi Candidacy Movement, Women for Peter Obi, Peter Obi Support Network, Peter Obi Ambassadors, Like Minds for Peter Obi, TakeBackNaija, Nigeria Needs Peter Obi, Peter Obi Movement for President, Associates of Peter Obi, among others.
He said: “These one million supporters are those who belong to the registered 56 groups across the 13 LGAs of the state. We are not campaigning at the moment because the Independent National Electoral Commission has not given a go-ahead. What we are doing today is a march to declare our support for Mr Peter Obi.
“We are supporting him because we believe that he has the capacity and ability to take Nigeria to greater heights. We are tired of all the politicians who deceive us every election year, telling us that they will provide good governance but they never fulfill their promises.
“The present government have completely failed the citizens. They promised to provide security and ensure stability for our economy but everyone can see what Nigeria has become. Everything in the market has increased in price but the salary of workers did not increase.
“Our children have been at home for almost six months now because universities are on strike but our leaders are not bothered about the situation because their children do not attend Nigerian schools. We are really tired of bad governance, so we are ready to effect a positive change in the country in 2023 using our permanent voter cards.”
The Voice reports that the groups matched from the College of Agriculture Junction along Jos road to the u-turn linking the Lafia Main Market along Makurdi road, carrying several placards with inscriptions in support of the candidature of Mr Obi.