The protest began after both politicians arrived at the Assumpta Cathedral, venue of the annual lecture.
Obi, who was the Labour Party’s presidential candidate in 2023, had welcomed El-Rufai to Imo State a day earlier, where the former governor was also received by the traditional ruler of Nekede Ancient Kingdom, Eze Agumanu.
While El-Rufai’s visit to Nekede went without incident, his presence at a Christian gathering alongside Obi triggered outrage.
Men, women, and youths carrying placards stormed the cathedral gates, chanting war songs and accusing Obi of bringing an enemy into Igboland.
Security operatives struggled to prevent the angry crowd from blocking Obi and El-Rufai from entering the cathedral.
Many of the protesters claimed that El-Rufai’s tenure as Kaduna governor was marked by violence against Christians and therefore considered his presence in Igboland unacceptable.
Some openly declared that Obi, by associating with El-Rufai, had lost their trust and respect.
Some of their placards read, “Stop deceiving us, Peter Obi,” “El Rufai is an enemy,” and “We don’t want you in Imo State.”
“Our respect for Obi has evaporated today. By identifying with an enemy of Ndigbo, he has also made himself an enemy,” they declared.
They added, “Ndigbo will never take Obi seriously again after his open relationship with El-Rufai.”
Despite the protests, Obi and El-Rufai had attended a private meeting on Friday with key stakeholders of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, at the residence of Chief Dr C.J. Oparah in Awaka, Owerri North Local Government Area.
The closed-door session brought together several Igbo leaders, including Professor Batos Nwadike, Chief Mike Nwachukwu, Rt. Hon. Maduagwu, HRM Eze Mitchell Uchenna Egbukole of Egbu Ancient Kingdom, and Mr Nick Oparandudu, where discussions centred on the party’s structures and future direction.
However, the unrest at the cathedral overshadowed those political engagements, as the fierce reaction from the crowd forced security operatives to whisk El-Rufai away from the venue for his safety, while Obi faced chants of betrayal from angry indigenes.
Dailypost.
Obi is desperate. He needs to calm down.
ReplyDeleteThe atrocities El-Rufai committed in Kaduna can NEVER be forgotten. Google them alongside the vile things himself and his bigot sons had said about the Igbos.
How a normal sane person go dey associate himself with Hellrufai beats my imagination.
ReplyDeleteOur own Peter is now loosing focus.🤯
Peter Obi Abeg just Rest , no dey do too much
ReplyDeleteFinally Ndigbos are now seeing Peter obi for who e truly is.
ReplyDelete*Ndi Igbo*...not...'Ndigbos'".
DeleteOne thing about Ndi Igbo is that they stick to the truth and not on tribal sentiments unlike 'most' (not all) Yoruba and Hausa people.
Once you hear someone accuse others of being tribal, just know that he or she is igbo.
DeleteThey are the most tribalistic people on planet earth.
So you approve of PO moving with Hell Rufai after all what he did to Christians in Kaduna? You are really truthful.
Desperate Peter jumping around different political parties
Desperate Peter now campaigning with people he described as evil, corrupt, and criminals just 2 years ago, so they are now saints.
DesperatePeter is offering a false promise of a single 4 year term when he didn't do much in Anambra for his 8years as governor
Anon 19.47 make i dey look you and just dey laugh.
DeleteYou are Igbo and support Peter Obi, i am Yoruba and support Tinubu, but na me you dey call tribal.
Una be experts at gaslighting
Hellrufai shouldn't be allowed there
ReplyDelete