BY BENEDICT NWACHUKWU, ABUJA
Contrary to public opinions that the fast emerging third force in the 2023 general elections – Labour Party, may run into hitches as it does not have money and structure to prosecute the election, Convener and National Coordinator of Grassroots Support for Peter Obi Presidential Campaign, Val Igwebuike, has said millions of youths have volunteered to work for the realisation of a new Nigeria.
Igwebuike said the youths know what the problems of the country are and have donated themselves to work to bring about lasting solutions. He added that the coming of Peter Obi and his running mate, Datti Yusuf Baba-Ahmed into the country’s political circle has naturally killed dollar and moneybag politics.
“Those saying that Peter Obi and Labour Party have no money and structure to prosecute 2023 presidential election have only decided to hold tight to the old path when money is everything in politics; not that they do not know that Obi’s emergence has changed the scenario.
“They know that the music has changed and the youths have aptly changed their dancing steps to make sure the suffering masses, particularly the youths do not continue in that condemnable situation. And because they have nothing to counter the youths’ choice, they fabricate all sorts of statements but those statements will not by anyway deter the youths.”
Igwebuike, in a telephone chat from his Owerri, Imo State base, said the Labour Party and the ‘Obidients’ will rely on volunteers in carrying out their activities and operations running up to 2023 general elections, for the success of its presidential candidate.
He revealed that many Nigerian youths supporting Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi are volunteers who do not want to be paid but are ready to even volunteer their finances.
Comrade Igwebuike maintained that the claim by the supporters of the other political parties that the Labour Party, being championed by the Obidients, has no structure and massive funding to win the 2023 general elections, is false and baseless.
Speaking on the capability of Labour Party to finance the cost of partaking in the elections, Igwebuike allayed fears that Labour Party may not be able to run the cost of the elections saying though the importance and instrumentality of money in politics and elections can never be underestimated, the “Obidients” are equal to the task and added that the era of moneybags politics is over.
“Money is very important to win an election. This amount of money these people are even talking about, let us not forget, part of it goes to vote buying, getting people that will mount polling units to ensure people’s votes are counted, down till the end of Election Day.
“But as I speak with you, we are having volunteers all over the country. Like myself, I am a volunteer; I am volunteering for a course that will give me a better life. I don’t need to be paid for it. Because if I am paid to do a particular task for an amount of money, that will not save me for another eight years.
“But as I speak with you, we are having volunteers all over the country. Like myself, I am a volunteer; I am volunteering for a course that will give me a better life. I don’t need to be paid for it”
“Therefore, more youth will be volunteering. They will be taking ownership of this project. Definitely, money will play a role. People will contribute money, bring resources, and bring their skills to bear.”
Reacting to the accusation that some Obidients are not being tolerable of opposing views, the Convener of GRSFPO said they were rather on the defensive.
“How can you beat a child and say he should not cry, when he cries, you complain that he is crying loud? Obidients are on the defensive side. We have been reactive to issues about lack of structure, Obi-tuary tag and other weird comments by the opposition.
“People should understand that because Peter Obi is peaceful and diplomatic always does not mean he has 100 per cent control of emotions of Obidient people supporting him.”
He argued that what the old politicians are calling the structure is nothing but a dysfunctional system, which allows the imposition of individuals as leaders and other electoral malpractices that have destroyed everything good about Nigeria.
“Before, you will sit down and someone will bring in a leader that will serve you. You know that person will bring in a leader that serves his purpose, but now, with this awareness created by the emergence of Obi, his ideology which the youth have bought wholesale, such thing cannot happen again.
“You know before now, there is usually this boast that most politicians usually make, ‘I will deliver my polling unit, state or LG’. It’s all about the assumption that they can decide on how and when people can come out and vote on election day and whether the votes will count or not.
“But this time around, I don’t think it is tenable anymore. Honestly, I don’t think any governor, senator or even LG chairman will have such confidence to boast he will deliver his unit. I am not expecting that these people that have faced misgovernance for more than seven years, and crying for a better government will just sit down and assume “my governor or chairman will say vote for this person” after seeing what misgovernance can do.”
Pointing out the success of many one million man march for Peter Obi in the states where it has been conducted, Igwebuike maintained that the opposition parties have not seen anything yet as the campaigns are yet kickstarted.
He, however, disclosed that physical meetings were ongoing in various units, regions, and states in preparation for the 2023 general elections and added that the success of the one million man march even in states where threats were issued to the Obidients is a confirmation that “we are ready for 2023”.
