The series of verbal attacks by the Governor of Anambra State, Charles Soludo against his predecessor Peter Obi, who contested the 2023 presidential election on the platform of the Labour Party seem to have become his albatross, as several eminent personalities have warned him to desist forthwith or incur the wrath of the masses who hold Obi in very high esteem because of who he is and what he represents.
One of such people is the founding Chairman of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) Chief Chekwas Okorie who, while speaking in an interview recently cautioned Soludo to stop insulting Peter Obi as that may ruin his second term ambition considering the fact that Obi has become a towering political figure who is admired by a cross section of Nigerians because of his eloquence, charisma and perceived ability to address the country’s numerous problems.
“Okorie wondered what political expedience it makes for Soludo to expend his political resources attacking Obi.
He stressed that such actions will only cause more harm to Soludo than any foreseeable advantage.
According to him, “Peter Obi is no longer a local politician like Soludo but a national figure, a major player in Nigerian politics.
“Attacking him is like attacking the late Chief Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, or Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).”
He noted that Chief Ojukwu and Nnamdi Kanu are leaders who already live in the hearts of the people, hence can only be admired.
Chekwas, therefore, advised Soludo to pay more attention to his administration and his upcoming re-election.
He warned that attacking Peter Obi will not bring him more votes.
Rather than giving him leverage, it may actually reduce his chances in the coming state governorship election, he noted.
It could be recalled that in 2023, on the eve of the presidential election, Soludo had welcomed the then Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, to Awka, the state capital.
During the visit, the Anambra governor had claimed that Peter Obi, who is a former governor of the state, is no force to contend with.
He had told Alhaji Abubakar that the election was basically between the then All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
To his chagrin, however, Mr. Obi won all the major stakes during the election.
Not done with the futile effort, he renewed his attacks on Obi with a recent verbose.
The former Labour Party candidate had recently stated categorically that he will spend only four if elected, saying that four years is enough for any serious leader to make a visible impact.
Reacting, Soludo said during a campaign rally that Obi needs a psychiatric check-up over such a four year claim if elected.
He had also made further sundry attacks on Obi, who had done nothing but to ignore him.
It was in the light of such developments that Chekwas Okorie advised Soludo to mind the business of governance and leave Peter Obi alone”.
