*Assures him of love, compassion and empathy by the OBIdients
The Presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Mr. Peter Obi, Wednesday visited Nigeria’s saxophonist and afrobeat singer, Femi Kuti.
The visit was after Femi, son of late Afrobeat legend, Fela Anikulapo Kuti, claimed that OBIdients were threatening him and want to burn down the Africa Shrine in Ikeja, Lagos, for criticising them.
During the visit, Obi assured Femi that OBIdients are responsible members of the public who would not harm him as they support his candidacy to lead Nigeria.
Present at the meeting held at the Africa Shrine was pop musician and activist, Charly Boy Oputa, among others.
The ‘Obidients’ were angered by Femi Kuti’s comments describing them as zombies.
But the five-time Grammy award-nominated instrumentalist, in a lengthy video stated explicitly that he never referred to Obi’s supporters as zombies contrary to news making the rounds, especially on Social Media.
He further explained that the bone of contention he had with the Presidential candidate’s supporters is the name they call themselves, Obidients, noting that his family has faced so much in the hands of various Nigerian governments that he cannot see himself to be ‘obidient’ to any of them.
The Bang-Bang singer said he has never supported any political party or candidate, adding: “I have seen insults directed at me and my family, as well as the threat that they will burn down the Shrine because they feel I said that Peter Obi’s supporters are zombies.
“First let’s be clear; what did I say? I said that I am too angry and sad, and depressed to be Obedient.
“I said, how can anybody come up with that term? How can you be Obedient, how? I don’t see it. How can you be Obedient in this country; we have had the EndSARS, killings, my grandmother was killed, my father’s house was burnt, the oppression of my family, and I am supposed to be obedient?
“Do you know the meaning of being obedient? It means if they tell you to sit down, you will sit down and when tell you to stand up, you will stand up. It means you are an obedient person. I cannot be obedient.”
The saxophonist continued, “I went on to say that Obi himself was friends with Atiku and he went on to be Atiku’s Vice-President.
“So, if he was Atiku’s Vice President, they are pals. If they had won the last election they would have been pals hugging each other now.
“Did I call Peter Obi’s supporters zombies? It means I would have said that ‘all Peter Obi’s supporters are zombies’. Did I say that? No.”
However, the LP candidate assured him of the great respect of his team of supporters and himself, adding that he should not be afraid of anybody of their folk.
He also used to occasion to list out his political philosophy, which is embedded on non-aggressive, issues-driven discussions and not driven by personality hunt.
“We love this country more than anybody else. We are desirous of transforming Nigeria from a consumption to a productive economy. We don’t like this idea of our children staying at home, not in school but idling away and getting frustrated.
“We shall create jobs for the teeming youths of Nigeria and provide opportunities for them to showcase their innumerable talents in positive ways. That is what the OBIdients pursue and in so doing, we obey the laws of the land and ensure ther is respect for human dignity,” he said.
