Mr. Sunny Agboju
Years ago, when I was in Primary 3, my mother asked me, “Son, do you pray for your Father?” Perplexed, I said “No”. “Why?”, she asked. I said, “Because I know Daddy will go to heaven”. “Good”, answered my mother. Then she went ahead to tell me to still pray for my Father. “How do I do that?”, I asked. She said I could either kneel, bow my head, clasp my hands and pray or stand, spread my arms wide, lift my eyes up to the heavens and pray. Not fully assuaged, I asked further, “Mom, what do I say when I pray for Dad?” Without hesitation, she said, simply, “O God, O God, O God, Bless my Daddy everyday”. This scene that has remained green in the garden of my memory brings tears to my eyes, especially when I recall the sacrifices my Dad made for us his children.
Similarly, certain events in the OBIDATTI Movement have touched me deeply and brought me to tears. I’ve witnessed numerous climaxes during the Movement’s journey across the country over the past several months, as people from all walks of life, regardless of gender, religion, or age, have come to catch a glimpse of Peter Obi.
I’ve observed a woman in Adamawa State who nearly exposed herself by removing her wrapper and laying it on the ground for Peter Obi to step on. I’ve seen a woman in Niger State, with a baby fastened to her chest, cry uncontrollably while holding onto Peter Obi’s car door and refusing to let him go. He was forced to take her phone number before security personnel could persuade her to release her grip on the door.
I’ve witnessed the city of Benin come to a standstill before Peter Obi’s arrival, with people pouring onto the streets as if everyone in the city was out. He had to fly in via helicopter, but even then, it took over an hour to drive the short distance of five minutes from the airport to the Oba’s Palace. The massive crowd was overwhelmingly passionate, defiantly joyful, and resolutely determined, waiting under the scorching sun. Peter was deeply moved by the Edo people’s spirit of perseverance, and tears flowed down his face. Despite having seen countless crowds eagerly awaiting him in the past, he was unable to contain his emotions in the face of this fervent outpouring of love and admiration. Peter wept!
However, last Saturday, February 11th, was different. As the OBIDATTI Movement approached the TBS campaign venue in Lagos, amidst the usually mammoth, jubilant crowd, a young lad, sweating profusely from his long trek of following the crawling convoy, was overcome with powerful emotions. He stood in front of Peter Obi’s own moving car, arms outstretched, literally and inadvertently forming a cross, praying. What could be more dramatic, iconic, symbolic, spiritual, esoteric and affirmative than a boy under 18 doing that? His name is Yusuf Alabi, a young Yoruba boy in Lagos.
When asked why he stood in front of Obi’s convoy, he said, quite unequivocally, “I stood in front of Peter Obi’s convoy because I wish I am up to 18 years old so that I can vote for him. But since I cannot vote for him, I came to the front of his car to pray for him so that he will win the election. My parents and my uncles and aunts said he is a good man” Yusuf Alabi is not up to the voting age but understands that he must contribute something to the rebuilding of Nigerian – he PRAYED for the next President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria!
Have you observed the genuine excitement that greets Peter Obi and the OBIDATTI Movement everywhere they go? Do you notice the brilliant joy and happiness that shines on the faces of his audience when he addresses them? Have you taken note of the undeniable outpouring of affection and love with which he is always received? I need not mention the obvious awe and reverence bestowed upon him, an epitome of humility and kindness. The rock-solid unanimity and concord with which the entire country is galvanized with the “structure-less” OBIDATTI Movement is a clear sign that a New Nigeria is about to emerge. The climax of it was that moment when Yusuf Alabi, arms outstretched, in front of Peter Obi’s moving car, cried out in his spirit, “O GOD! O GOD!! O GOD!!! Make Peter Obi the next President of Nigeria!”
Mr Sunny Agboju is a Management Consultant and a Public Affairs Analyst)
