Markets stood still for Atiku/Obi, Obaze confirms victory for PDP

Traders in various markets in Anambra State spontaneously closed their shops yesterday to catch a glimpse of the Vice Presidential Candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Mr. Peter Obi, on hearing that he was around to woo them to support PDP in the upcoming election.

 Obi, a former Governor of Anambra State, had paid an unscheduled visit to some markets in the state.

Markets visited included Building Material market at Ogidi; New Tyre market at Ogidi; Afor Igwe, Umudioka; Oye Olisa, Ogbunike; New Parts, Nkpor, among others.

In the markets, Obi interacted with traders, explaining to them the reasons to vote in the PDP as resting on the need to stop the total collapse of the country as being witnessed presently.

He also assured them that with Alhaji Abubakar Atiku as the President, the condition of traders would improve, with planned development of more sea ports in the state. He also assured them that “Atiku, noted for wealth-creation in his private life will replicate the same if voted in.”

On power infrastructure, which is a hindrance to the survival of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), Obi assured the traders that Atiku’s economic blueprint contained articulated steps to be taken for the revamping of the power sector in the country.

The response by market leaders struck the same cord: that Obi being a fellow trader and having demonstrated superb leadership as a former Governor of Anambra state, should be massively voted for in order to export his Anambra experience to the centre.

Obi was accompanied by PDP chieftains such as Osita Chidoka, Oseloka Obaze, Harry Oranezi and Alex Obiogbolu, among others.

This is coming as the Anambra State Chairman of the Atiku-Obi Election Council, Mr Oseloka Obaze asserted that President Muhammadu Buhari had already lost the February 16 presidential poll.

According to Obaze who was the candidate of the People’s Democratic Party in the 2017 governorship election in the state the Socio-political ambience in the country had shown that over 90 per cent of Nigerians were disgruntled with the Buhari government.

Obaze spoke with newsmen at a press conference in Awka, the Anambra State capital Wednesday.

He said the February 16 poll would be a mere formality to officially exit Buhari from Aso Rock.

Obaze said: “Over 90 per cent of Nigerians are unhappy with this government. The anger of Nigerians has already sacked Buhari as president long ago.

“The government has not implemented five per cent of the promises it made to Nigerians in 2015.

“The APC government needs to go to give Nigerians breathing air. Nigerians are disgruntled with them.

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“The government has since been issued a quit notice by Nigerians. So, the February 16 poll is mere formality to exit the government.

He said the PDP had put arrangements in place to ensure that the election was not rigged, stressing that the international community had their eyes on the election.

“I don’t see why Buhari should not allow the election to be credible and transparent. Buhari should accept the imminent defeat he will face in the poll, and go without bringing additional problems on Nigeria”.

Obaze dismissed the speculation that South-East governors were not in support of Atiku-Obi project, stating that the PDP presidential rallies and the crowd that greeted such rallies were indicative that the geopolitical zone was united in the project.