Enugu Decides: Shock greets Edeoga’s supporters as Peter Obi refuses endorsement
Denis Nwani
The presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Mr. Peter Obi, has refused to openly endorse the governorship candidate of Labour Party in Enugu State, Chijioke Edeoga, fearing that he would be booed over the glaring incompetences and abysmal failure of the candidate while he held juicy offices in the PDP for over 23 years.
Mr. Obi was in Enugu today for the burial former senatorial candidate of the party, Barr. Oyibo Chukwu, who was murdered by suspected unknown gunmen shortly before the February 25 general election.
Mr. Peter Obi who made it clear that he was in Enugu on a condolence visit to the family of the deceased, only said some of the candidates of the party from other states, including Enugu, joined him for the condolence visit and burial ceremony.
According to Peter Obi, Labour Party members may consider supporting the party, warning that only those with competence, capacity, character, compassion, track records and outstanding career outside politics should be voted for.
Earlier on, Obi’s supporters had trailed the presidential candidate to the venue of the condolence visit in order to protest against him should he consider endorsing Edeoga who is perceived to be incompetent and corrupt.
Peter Obi, however, deliberately refused to campaign for Edeoga or mention his name to the disappointment of the Labour Party’s supporters and the candidate.
Recall that Aisha Yusuf, a frontline Peter Obi’s supporter and other Obidients Movement members in the state had strongly disagreed with the presidential candidate, warning him not to endorse Edeoga over his failure in the Ministry of Environment, and his alleged criminal record while he was Commissioner for Local Government under Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi.
In the same vein, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, yesterday advised Peter Obi against endorsing a man whose political history remains questionable, asking where the competence of Edeoga lies when he could not boast of any achievement since 23 years of active politics.
The governorship election was recently moved from 11 to 18 March by the Independent National Electoral Commission citing BVAS reconfiguration and logistics problems.
