Supporters of the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Mr Peter Obi, yesterday conducted peaceful and successful solidarity march for him in Umuahia, the Abia State capital and Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital.
In Umuahia, the “One Million March” took-off from the Abia Tower on the Port Harcourt-Enugu Express Way through Ossah, Bank and Aba roads, terminating at the General Post Office in the city centre.
Some of the supporters who carried placards with different inscriptions in support of Obi chanted songs in his praise amidst traffic gridlocks along the major roads.
The march was conducted according to a directive contained in a letter by the state command of the Nigeria Police which was signed by ACP Alabi Adebowale for the assistant commissioner of police in charge of the operations department.
A letter from the police which was addressed to Comrade Emmanuel Okafor, the state organiser of the Coalition for Peter Obi, read in part: “You are to ensure proper enlightenment of your colleagues in the process to conduct yourselves peacefully.”
The police cautioned that it was pertinent to note that there had been frequent threats by some groups which may hijack the process if the persons involved were not properly enlightened and guided.
In a related development, early morning business activities were crippled in Yenagoa by the “One-Million man march” held by a coalition of supporters of Peter Obi in the state.
The supporters who marched from Tombia Junction enroute the Mbiama Yenagoa road and terminated at the Ox-bow Lake, wore various pro-Obi attires and carried banners with inscriptions such as “Our Mumu don do”, “We need someone that will fix Nigeria”,” Peter Obi stands the better chance to restore Nigeria”, “Our crumbling education, power, health, and economy can only be revive by Peter Obi,”” we are the structure” and “We want to vote in a man that has the future of the country at heart”.
As early as 8am, vehicular movement from the entrance of the state was already at a halt as youths, women and men gathered to take instructions before embarking on the rally.
Speaking with newsmen, the coordinator of Concerned Medical Practitioners, Dr. Frank Ogunuawe, said they were all out in support of Peter Obi whom they described as the most credible and prepared man for the job, adding that the medical profession in the country was gradually collapsing.
He added that with the number of professionals in the sector leaving to work outside the country was quiet threatening, while the few ones in the country were planning to go on strike due to some unresolved issues between them and the government.
Vice chairman of the Coalition of Pro-democracy Groups, Mr. Dr. Charles Oyibo, noted that what was happening on the streets of Yenagoa was to organise and sensitise the people on the need to take back Nigeria.
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