Peter Obi Replies To Okowa’s Comment On Attending Churches
By Collins Mbakwe
Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, has responded to a statement made by Ifeanyi Okowa, the vice-presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Governor Okowa of Delta State warned Obi in an interview with reporters in Kano State on Wednesday to stop stirring up emotions through the church, according to Vanguard.
Okowa had stated that the church should not be dragged into politics and that the LP candidate should stop attempting to use or force Christians into politics, as it is not their calling.
Read Also: Flood Kills Six, Displace Hundreds In Plateau
He was responding to Obi’s recent visits to several churches, including the Dunamis International Gospel Centre in Abuja and the Redemption City of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, where he was received with open arms.
In a statement released on Thursday, the Obi Campaign Media Office refuted Okowa’s claim that the LP candidate was stoking religious sentiments and added that Okowa’s accusation was without merit.
The statement noted that Obi visited churches prior to his current run for the presidency, asserting that any attempts to limit him to a particular sector would fail.
It was stated that Obi is the leader of a movement whose members and supporters span all aspects of our national life and that he does not belong to the primitive politics, religion, tribe, or geography of the nation.
The statement reads, “Obi was labeled a mere social media blitz, floating in the air without structure; second, he was labeled an Igbo and IPOB irredentist; and, now, Okowa, distressed by Obi’s popularity among the lay faithful, claims he is fanning religious sentiments.”
Obi is, in reality, the leader of a movement whose membership and support span all aspects of our national life, and any attempt to categorize him will fail. Obi has visited churches prior to his current campaign for the presidency. In July 2021, he attended the 25th anniversary of a priest at St Mary’s Catholic Church in Karu, Abuja, and the church erupted when he was introduced.
“Nigerians celebrated him at various weddings in Abuja, Lagos, and the rest of the country he visited for what he stood for and what he did when he held public office in Anambra State.
This year, one of these events was the wedding of Dr. Okowa’s child at the National Ecumenical Conference Centre in Abuja. Long before he began to aspire to the presidency, Obi was celebrated at every public gathering.
“Recently, in the state of Kaduna, Obi attended a wedding ceremony in a mosque, and his admirers surrounded him in an attempt to touch him. In addition, the Obi-Datti Media Office is aware that the Delta state governor was always invited to Obi’s most prominent public church appearances, including a recent Dunamis Church event in Abuja. He either stays away or sends his wife to represent him, and because Obi dislikes being represented where the people want him, he makes an effort to be present despite his busy schedule.
According to the statement, the LP candidate is leading a movement that cannot be halted or diverted by any distractions because it was prompted by the need to save the nation.
It added, “We do not expect Governor Okowa to join in this fantasy talk of attack dogs, but rather to use every available opportunity to market himself and his candidate, as opposed to focusing on rebutting anything concerning Peter Obi of the Labour Party.”
The glaring truth, which even Okowa is aware of, is that the Labour Party candidate is leading a movement that cannot be stopped or diverted by any distractions, as it was prompted by the long-standing oppression of the people who are about to be liberated by Obi’s message of hope.
“Reclaiming and rebuilding the nation is an almost certain task, as there is no turning back.” The oppressors have compelled the oppressed to pull the trigger, and there will be retribution.
