October 1, (THEWILL) – Supporters of the presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi, on Saturday, converged on strategic locations across Lagos state in a 4-million-man solidarity rally.
The rally which was held simultaneously in Lekki, Surulere, Ikeja and Festac, on the country’s Independence Day, according to conveners, was to garner support for the presidential ambition of the former Governor of Anambra State, Peter Obi and his running mate, Yusuff Baba-Ahmed.
In Surulere axis, the Obi supporters kick-started their rally from the National Stadium in a mammoth crowd wearing the ObiDatti campaign shirts.
The rally caused human and vehicular traffic around the Stadium axis, from Akala and Teslim Balogun Stadium down to Ojuelegba.
They walked down to Ojuelegba where some commercial bus drivers and conductors joined the rally then moved to Fadeyi.
The supporters were sighted chanting ‘Obi For President’, ‘We want good governance’, ‘We are tired of bad governance’ and so on, waving the Nigerian flag and the Labour Party flag.
One of the members of the organising committee, Barrister Promise Adewusi, speaking with journalists said the rally has been peaceful across Lagos State so far.
According to him, “The rally is massive and peaceful. The police and soldiers have been so friendly with some joining in the singing.
“No ugly incident so far, we hope there won’t be any. We’ve gone past Ojuelegba, approaching Fadeyi from the National Stadium to terminate at Maryland.
“It’s been so orderly with agberos, drivers and passengers who have to endure slight inconveniences passing through the crowd hailing, applauding shouting that they are tired of eating agbado (corn). Our police escorts have had virtually no work to do as the mass movement of the people is so peaceful and orderly.”
Also, another supporter, Olaronke Dawodu Kolade, said the support for Obi/Datti candidacy was to entrench good governance, adding that the youths were tired of the old order.
“Youths are tired of misrule and bad governance, poor power supply, unemployment, economic hardship, insecurity. No visible infrastructural development. Youths do not want to spend 10 years for a course of 4 years in our universities anymore. Nothing is working in Nigeria. We believe in the Obi/Datti candidacy”, Kolade said.
Also in Ikeja, the Obidients Movement, defied the early downpour to converge at the Archbishop vining memorial church for the procession.
They chanted the national anthem and waved the flags and carried banners, posters and other paraphernalia with various inscriptions.
Some of the supporters expressed confidence in the emergence of the Labour Party candidate as the next president of the country.
A member of the movement, Augustine Andrew, described Peter Obi as the messiah Nigerians have been waiting for, adding, “Peter Obi is the messiah Nigerians have been waiting for. Nigeria will be great again and this, we will make happen in the 2023 election. The Obidient Movement is a tsunami cutting across every region of the country. We are taking back our country.”
Another supporter, Nonso Abraham, said, “With togetherness, Nigeria will be great again. This is why we are here under the rain to declare our support for Peter Obi because we know he can take Nigeria to the promised land.”
Ezekiel John said, “Everywhere never choke. We just dey come. We are gradually coming.”
In Lekki, there was a heavy presence of security personnel at the Toll Gate, as security operatives were able to enforce strict compliance with the “no rally” order at the Toll Gate.
However, supporters walk from the Admiralty Junction through the major road in Lekki.
They were captured holding the posters of the LP candidate and his vice, Yusuf Baba-Ahmed.
Many of the supporters were also in branded vests as they marched around.
The rally caused both human and vehicular traffic around the axis
They made stops at every junction waving flags, banners and other paraphernalia as they rallied towards Jakande, Elegushi axis, an apparent move to avoid confrontation with the police already stationed at the Lekki Toll Gate.
A Federal High Court ruling in Lagos, on Wednesday, had ruled against any form of convergence at the Lekki Tollgate save for passing through on their way to Falomo.
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