By Jude Michael
A leading contender for the Labour Party ticket ahead of the Anambra Guber Election, Mr John Nwosu, has told members of the Obidient Movement that their full commitment is needed as members ahead of the November election, warning that they either stay in or out.
Obedient Movement is a group of Nigerians at home and in diaspora who believe in the ideals of Mr Peter Obi, the party’s Presidential Standard Bearer in the 2023 elections.
Addressing the Obidient Movement in Awka, March 8, Nwosu said he had hoped to meet with them earlier but wanted to be sure that those who were Dis-Obidient were no longer with them.
‘The Dis-Obidients have moved on. They have proven us right. You Are Either Obidient or Not!
‘Obidient Movement is Peter Obi and Peter Obi is the Obidient Movement. He is our leader and we are his disciples. We must never forget that. Where our leader goes, we go with him!
‘I am very happy that as the Movement is being restructured nationally, Anambra is in the fray. This is proper, since Anambra is ground-zero and the next battle ground. The story of the Obidient Movement is still being written. It is a positive story of a Movement that politically redefined Nigeria.
‘My name is John Chuma Nwosu. I’m running for Governor of Anambra State. And I am Obidient.
‘I wish to talk to you today on Anambra State and what we need to do. My fellow Obidients, as were approach the 2025 Governorship Elections, Anambra State is the next battleground and a test case for the Obidient Movement,’ Nwosu said.
He enjoined them to come together in the fight to salvage Anambra, noting that Anambra State under Soludo had become an eyesore, as well as insecure.
His words, ‘It has become a fetid dish of crime, criminality and bloodletting. This has to change. Such carnage has to end!
‘In 2017, Soludo selfishly stated, ‘’Anambra is not broken, so why fix it?” But karma has an address. Since its creation, Anambra is in its worst possible shape under his leadership. He inherited a broken state and made it worse.
‘Under his watch, Anambra has regressed economically due to insecurity. This lack of leadership has also impacted negatively on the entire South East.
‘Out of what is locally called, ITK- “I too know”, Soludo promised mountains and delivered a molehill. He promised us Taiwan and Dubai; and when he failed to deliver, he arrogantly called us illiterate. What’s my point?
‘Gov. Soludo has failed. Soludo has to go. Anyone supporting Soludo for a second term does not love Anambra. We must get involved and secure Anambra once again.’
Nwosu charged them to constitutionally send Soludo away to save Anambra from a disastrous leadership. According to him, theory was not practical and the state needed practical leadership, which, he said, Soludo was not offering.
‘We are in a marathon race to produce a New Nigeria. I believe firmly, that a New Nigeria is imperative and possible! But we must start from home.
‘There are problems and challenges that are peculiar to Anambra; and there are challenges that pertain to Nigeria and Africa.
‘My Seven Pillars of good governance; namely, Security, Health, Education, Economy, Enterprise, Market, and Social Welfare (SHEEEMS), will prioritize and provide the framework for addressing Anambra’s development challenges.
‘We can longer allow Soludo to hoodwink us. Whitewashing Anambra is a fallacy, and a ruse. Repainting existing infrastructure built by his predecessors and the federal government is deceitful and mischievous. Where are the developments that represent hard and soft power?
‘Prioritization and efficiency are the hallmarks of good governance. And that is what we intend to bring about,’ he said.