The Anambra election has come and gone, but Peter Obi has once again demonstrated his consistency, integrity, and compassion, qualities that continue to drive his passion for a new Nigeria. This is the consistency that reinforces my belief in him. Character is not situational, it is constant.
Several people before the election, told him about the vote buying, and he said he won’t ever engage in such.
Personally, I saw people being paid when we were in Onitsha down to other communities, and others not caring about the election.
Different statements like, “This is not Peter Obi’s election, when his own comes, we will show them”. We don’t even know any of the candidates, it’s only Peter Obi we know” “This is the only time we can collect money oh, when Peter Obi’s own come, we will vote”.
Even in his PU, it was relatively empty, only about 20-30 people were interested in the election, most of them old women.
Some other people in the community came out when they heard Peter Obi was around to vote, some came late after the accreditation.
I noticed a busload of people who came to vote. Over 100 people. They registered them to vote in his PU, they are not even from Anambra. The chaos that ensued was poetic. People stopped them.
Still, Peter Obi welcomed everyone, saying, “Let them all vote.” He even went to the buses and greeted them with calmness to their surprise.
The boys in the community said they don’t know who they are and refused them voting, Onyisi, they are here to vote against you they said. Peter Obi told them “They are voting against their own future not against me”.
Someone even offered ₦5 million to them to buy the votes, but Peter Obi told the man about the Practicing School in the community that was razed by fire, he then said” Vote buying destroys, would you rather destroy or build”. He told the man the money would be used to build the foundation for the classrooms that burnt.
Peter Obi wasn’t on the ballot, and yet his integrity still defined the atmosphere
He won’t dictate how others should run their election, whether they are from his side of LP or not.
He supports who he wants as an individual and casts his votes as one
But the way the election has been made about him, shows how the ruling party revolve around him. Even those in the election, left the candidates, to discuss about Peter Obi. They want to claim where they do not belong. A sad attempt of elevating themselves to the level of Peter obi.
Just this past week, while others were criminally vote buying, Peter Obi was giving.
That is the difference between politics as usual and leadership with purpose.
Throughout the week of election, Peter Obi was changing lives.
On Oct 31, he donated ₦15 million to College of Nursing, Amichi, and ₦5 million to St. Felix Hospital. The next day, Nov 1, he extended his generosity to Dennis Memorial Grammar School (DMGS) Onitsha. Rested like the Saviour that he is on Sunday Nov 2nd, and continued doing good on the 3rd.
On 4th, he donated ₦10 million to College of Nursing, Oji River, and ₦15 million on Nov 5 to College of Nursing, Adazi. That same day, he started the process to rebuild a school in Anambra that was razed by fire, and children have been learning under a tree and a half destroyed over crowded classroom.
On 6th, he gave ₦15 million to College of Nursing Iyienu, and ₦15 million to College of Nursing, Ihiala
A day to election, 7 Nov, he was in Enugu, where he donated ₦20 million and a total of ₦120 million to College of Nursing in Emene
Do the maths. That’s the total that can buy LGAs if he so wishes to be a “bad boy”.
If his intention were to buy votes, that amount can easily purchase wards, LGAs, and communities.
We cannot continue to expect transformation from one man alone while we sit idle
If anything, this election has shown that Peter Obi’s consistency and focus on the future remain intact. While others spent on politics, he invested in people. While others bought votes, he built value.