Opinion
By Tai Emeka Obasi WHEN Peter Obi set off from his GRA residence at Onitsha for the Onitsha Central Mosque in Bida yesterday, anyone from the entourage who didn't know him well enough might have thought he was making a political call. But I know him quite well to understand that it was never to respond to those who accuse him of bigotry. If it was, he would have done something similar during the campaigns and made a real meal out of it. From the moment he arrived and members of the Hausa Community present showed surprise and unbelievable warmth in welcoming him, it became very clear that the former governor was in a familiar territory. They were expecting a representative but PO appeared in person. They took him to the prayer area on the first floor. Immediately he sat down, the guests' spokesman took over. The spokesperson, Barrister Mahmud Imam, is the secretary of the Arewa Community in Anambra State and greeted the Labour Party presidential candidate with many pleasing remarks. "We are very glad to have you here, Your Excellency. We know you very well and we can always see you as part of us. This is not your first time celebrating Sallah with us. "During your time as governor, you always invited us to the Anambra State Government Lodge in Amawbia every Sallah to celebrate - eat, dance and always gave us gifts all the time. "When this mosque was burned down, you rebuilt it. When there was a problem here, you came to our aid and protected us from harm. We were very grateful and we will always be grateful. "Above all, throughout your reign as governor you always sponsored many, over 150, of us to Mecca to observe the Hajj. We know you and we can testify at every level that you are a very good man who has all the necessary ingredients to be a very good president of this country. "We voted 100% for you because we believe in you. You brought the Sultan here three times, and this is unprecedented. "However, we are disappointed that you left us out of your campaign and did not carry us along. If you had, we would have followed you to all parts of our place, especially in the Northwest to refute all the lies they were telling about you. But we believe you will become our president." There were other representatives that spoke in tandem, including the Chief Imam of the Central Mosque, Alhaji Abdulrahim, who interestingly offered closing prayers in both Hausa and Igbo. PO gave reassuring message of continuing the relationship, and promised to always be there for them anytime it becomes necessary, promised to assist in renovating the mosque as requested. But there were unspoken words. PO did not go further to explain why he did not make any of them part of his campaign team or take any to Northern states during the campaign. Obi is a man, who does not do things just for politics. He rather does because he is convinced it is the right thing to do. He believed they were and are Nigerians and must be comfortable and given equal rights in Anambra State and expects such to be same anywhere else they reside and for every other Nigerian within the Nigerian territory. The ex-governor did not want to policise that, believing they were responsible and honest enough to say the truth at all times whenever consulted. Gifts of N500,000.00 cash, bags of rice, cartons of noodles and malt drinks were presented by the LP presidential candidate. ***Tai Emeka Obasi reports for from Onitsha. A.Tags: Peter Obi POEM Tai Emeka Obasi
