“If I Were Tinubu, I Will Give Obi Campaign Money” – Soludo In A New Attack On Obi, Says LP Candidate GivingTinubu Victory

By Charles Igbo

For the second time within a few days, Anambra State Governor, Professor Charles Soludo, has attacked the Presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Mr Peter Obi. He is accusing Obi of toying with the destiny of about 60 million Igbo.

In a stinging, written, response to the avalanche of attacks on him, following his assessment of Obi’s investment in Anambra as worth nothing, during an interview with Channels Television,  Soludo said Obi is wasting his time campaigning for the office of the President as he would never be among the first two, and probably not among the first three.

Titled Peter Obi Is going nowhere, and I will not be silent Soludo said what Obi is doing is squandering the future chances of the Igbo.

He pointed out that Obi is only succeeding in chipping away the votes of Atiku Abubakar, the Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party and is indirectly working for the candidate of the All Progressives Party, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.

Soludo: “Let’s be clear: Peter Obi knows that he can’t and won’t win. He knows the game he is playing, and we know too. And he knows that we know.”

The Governor said he already told Obi one on one, that there is no way he could win.

Soludo: “Indeed, there is no credible pathway for him near the first two positions, and if care is not taken, he won’t even near the third position. Analysts tell him you don’t need “structure” to win. Fantasy!

He then mocked the performance of the LP in Ekiti and Osun States, and Obi’s overall chances in States.

Soludo: “Of course, LP won Governorship elections in Ekiti and Osun on social media and via phantom polls, while getting barely 2,000 votes on ground. Creating a credible third force for Presidential election in Nigeria requires a totally different strategy and extreme hard work.

“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  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!

On the effect of Obi’s situation on the Igbo, Soludo  said the South-east votes will not count in the making of the President in 2023.

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 marginalization. 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!”