Anambra Governor Chukwuma Soludo has expressed confidence that the presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) Peter Obi will not win the 2023 election
Soludo stated that Obi is imposing defeat on himself via his attempts to pull down the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), thereby making the path to victory of the All Progressives Congress presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu easier.
Soludo said this in an article titled ‘History beckons and I will not be silent (Part 1)’.
According to Soludo, Obi is running a campaign on a dangerous desperation that may likely cost Igbo dearly for years.
He said: “The current fleeting frenzy, if not checked, will cost Ndigbo dearly for years.
“The South East has the lowest number of votes of any region, but it is also the only region where the presidential race might be a 4-way race (it is a two-way race in the other 5 regions) thereby ensuring that our votes won’t count in the making of the next president of Nigeria. Afterwards, we would start complaining that we don’t get “what we deserve” or cry of marginalisation.
“During the 2019 presidential election, the five South East States were united for PDP but contributed merely 1.6 million votes to PDP which was about the votes that Kano state gave to Buhari.
“The emotions might run to heavens but politics-power is about cold calculations, organization and building alliances for power. In a democracy, it is a game of numbers.
“So far, I don’t see any of these— and 2023 might again be a wasted opportunity for Ndigbo! What is our Plan B when Peter Obi loses in February 2023? Some people prefer that we should play the Ostrich while Peter Obi toys with the collective destiny of over 60 million Igbos.
“Yes, you pray that he wins, but what if he fails as he is certain to? The Bible says that my people perish for lack of knowledge. As the saying goes, only those who Plan can control the future. Ndigbo, wake up and smell the coffee.
“Of course, Peter Obi will get some votes and may probably win in Anambra state— as “home boy”. But Anambra is not Nigeria. If he likes, I can even campaign for him but that won’t change much.
“From internal state by state polling available to me, he was on course to get 25% in 5 states as at August this year. The latest polling shows that it is down to four states and declining.
“Not even in Lagos State (supposed headquarters of urban youths) where Labour Party could not find candidates to contest for House of Reps or Senate. The polls also show that he is taking votes away mostly from PDP.
“Indeed, if I were Asiwaju Tinubu, I would even give Peter Obi money as someone heading one of the departments of his campaign because Obi is making Tinubu’s pathway to victory much easier by indirectly pulling down PDP. It is what it is!’’
Soludo joins the number of state governors and political activists that have predicted strongly the imminent failure of Obi at the polls in 2023 despite enjoying a frenzy of social media support.