The presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 election, Peter Obi, has said nobody can capture the Southeast region.
Mr Obi, who stated this while reacting to the mass defection of governors and lawmakers from opposition parties to the APC, said the whirlwind does not translate to political control of the region.
Speaking to journalists in Abuja on Wednesday, Mr Obi said Nigeria is operating a democracy, not a military regime where states can be “captured”.
The former Anambra governor added that power rests with the people and not governors or senators.
“The people will decide where to go, not governors or senators. No party will capture or win any state just because it has a governor,” Mr Obi said in reaction to the recent wave of defections.
Reacting to the defection of Enugu State governor, Peter Mbah Mr Obi said, “Peter Mbah is a good friend of mine. I believe that as governor, he made his decision based on his own political views and calculations.
“As for the alleged plan to capture the ssoutheast,we’re not in a military era when people are captured.
“You are a leader. You tend to do the right things for them to follow you. So, I don’t think anybody is capturing anywhere.
“The government just needs to do more to earn people’s support,” he said.
Commenting on the planned protest to demand the release of the proscribed leader of Ithe Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu, Mr Obi said,“I’ve always been consistent on Nnamdi Kanu’s situation.
“There was no need for his arrest in the first place. For me, I will consult, negotiate, and discuss with anybody who is agitating. I’ve always said that, and I still stand by it.”
He said issues surrounding agitation should be handled through dialogue and adherence to the rule of law.
“Now that it has gone to court, the rules should be followed — not just for Nnamdi Kanu, but for all agitators across the country,” he said.
“There’s nothing wrong with anyone agitating; let’s talk with them and do things according to the law.”
