Aftermath Of Obi-Datti Mega Rally: Coordinator Of Big Tent, Dr Fabian Ihekweme Commends Imo People For Massive Support 

If there is anything reasonable and worth talking about during that visit, it’s the resilience and total resolve of Imo people across party lines to come out en mass to register their unflinching support and uncompromised solidarity to the presidential ambition of Mr. Peter Obi of Labour Party; who landed in Imo alongside the retinue of his colourful entourage as they were warmly received at the Sam Mbakwe Airport by the duo of Obi-Datti Presidential Campaign Council Chairman in Imo State, Chief Martin Agbaso and Dr. Fabian Ihekweme, Imo State Coordinator of the Big Tent- Obi-Datti Presidential Campaign Council; a powerful political structure, which accommodates all interest groups and state actors across party lines, ethnicity, religious diversity, and geopolitical zones  as legitimately and proudly  instituted by HE. Mr. Peter Obi and Prof. Pat Utomi to galvanize the support of broad- minded diasporas and Nigerian leaders like; Chief  Olusegun Obasanjo,  Gen. T. Y Danjuma (Rtd), Gen. Ibrahim Babangida (Rtd), etc.

However, in commending the efforts of the different heads of the Peter Obi support groups, local organizing committee(s) constitued by the State Coordinator of Big Tent Obi-Datti Presidential Campaign Council, Dr. Fabian Ihekweme, and Chairman of the Presidential Campaign Council (PCC ) Chief Martin Agbaso; the unfortunate bureaucracy and delays by the Imo State government in giving early approval for the use of either the Dan Anyiam Stadium or the Ndubuisi Kanu’s Square in the application letter submitted by the Chief Martin Agbaso group, while expressly giving such urgent approval to Dr. Fabian Ihekweme, didn’t not only make the latter a celebrated political leader with capacity, acceptability and the audience of the state government, but regrettably cast some doubt about the leadership tenacity and goal-getting skill of Omeudo Martin Agbaso, until the interventionist approach adopted by the  candidates of Labour Party in Imo State, who insisted that the Kanu Nwankwo privately-owned stadium or sports facility must be used since a lot of human resources, energy, time and huge amount of logistical expenses had been expended in setting up the venue.

Nonetheless, there is also an argument nay opinion from government quarters that Chief Martin Agbaso and his handlers, who applied for the venue refused to make immediate payment of the sum of One Million and Two Hundred Thousand Naira, =N1.2M, being the renting value of the Ndubuisi Kanu  Square, thinking it won’t be approved so they can use that as a tool to wipe off sheer sentiments or a propaganda against the Imo State government or those that beat them to their game by approving the venue for a rather smart and well meaning Coordinator of the Big Tent, Dr. Fabian Ihekweme.

One, therefore, gets worried that for a presidential rally scheduled over a month ago, it smacks of clear mischief and attempt to score cheap political goal to have applied for a venue on Thursday, December 1 2022, for a rally slated for Thursday, December 6, 2022, being mindful of the usual bureaucracy of government.

In lieu of the above, it is quite mendacious, mischievous and insensitive of any reasonable homosapiens to have rushed online to accuse the Imo State government under Sen. Hope Uzodimma, for sowing the seed of internal discord or fueling an alleged leadership crisis between Chief Martin Agbaso and Dr. Fabian Ihekweme, who are appointed to manage different aspects of the Obi-Datti Presidential Campaign Council in Imo State, as being speculatively, hurriedly and erroneously  posted by FCC Jones  Onwuasoanya and other media hirelings fanning the embers of a possible  division among the Obi-dient sons and daughters of Imo State.

In a rather swift response to the post made by Jones FCC Onwuasoanya with his pseudo pen name, Johnbull Chikwe, titled: “Obi-Datti in Imo: Of Treachery, Opportunism And Integrity”.

According to Ogu Bundu  SA on Research & Development to Imo State governor, Sen. Hope Uzodimma, posited that:

“FCC Jones Onwuasoanya in his 7-paragraph aquatic verbal ejaculation was struggling needlessly to squeeze water out of the desert stone of his baseless, speculative, dishonest and insincere narrative about the unsubstantiated roles Governor Hope Uzodimma purportedly played in the coming to Imo State by Mr. Peter Obi and his Labour Party.”

As an eye witness reporter, who followed tenaciously what later became a political showdown in Imo State over the choice of venue to be used preparatory to Peter Obi’s presidential visit, while the political class and majority of Labour Party candidates resolved to use the Kanu Nwankwo’s stadium as their adopted venue to avert whatever fears of an alleged underlying politics played by Governor Hope Uzodimma, I must  commend the sincerity of purpose exhibited by Dr. Fabian Ihekweme in securing a more clinical, spacious,  accommodating and friendly venue with provision for car slot even at his personal cost and inconveniences amid requests for logistics provisions by the army of different support groups who thronged out to show their love, support and solidarity. As the Eastern edage goes: “Better meat, better meat, is on the body of a cow nay Dr. Fabian Ihekweme”:  who was neither supported nor given a Kobo by the Presidential Campaign Council in Abuja yet, he proved himself a committed and true believer of the Peter Obi presidential ambition.

Watching him and other members of his Local Organizing Committee run around into the nights of Sunday and Monday in order to ensure a seamless and hitch -free presidential mega rally in Imo on Tuesday, made me to have more respect for the Obowo-born German trained scholar and boardroom political strategist. Omu meant well. Yes, he did. Regrettably, not too many people, especially, those jostling for position and recognition can make such sacrifice as honestly and pragmatically demostrated by Dr. Fabian Ihekweme.

Displaying some political wit and leadership sagacity, as one who plays politics of humanity and conscience; Peter Obi, in an attempt to broker a truce  between Chief Martin Agbaso and Dr. Fabian Ihekweme as to bring the two leaders on the same page, promised to visit the Ndubuisi Kanu Square of Dr. Ihekweme even if it’s one person he met at the venue. And true to his words,  Peter Obi visited an awaiting impressive mammoth crowd majority of whom ran to the Kanu Nwankwo’s Sports facility on hearing about the sponsored story flying on the social media that Peter Obi had decided to visit only the Kanu Nwankwo Sports facility.

Just as the devil fishes in troubled waters, we also received a security report about a sponsored mobilization of buses that came to the Ndubuisi Kanu  Square to convey already waiting and tired support groups of Dr. Fabian Ihekweme to the Kanu Nwankwo stadium to add more colour to the  enthusiastic crowd who were chanting different political songs of victory for Peter Obi and his vice -presidential running mate,  Dr Yusuf Datti Ahmed.

Arriving Hero’s Square, being the venue  approved by the Imo State government for such epoch making event, an  obviously elated Peter Obi and members  of his entourage apologized for their late coming while highlighting the blueprint of his campaign manifesto to ndi Imo, promising to make the state one of the biggest exporters of palm oil just like Singapore. Obi reiterated the commitment of his government if elected into office to productively engage Nigerian youths while proactively addressing the issue of ASUU strike that always alters the academic calendar in Nigeria.

In recognizing the efforts and commitment of Dr. Fabian Ihekweme, Imo State Chairman of the Big Tent Obi-Datti Presidential Campaign Council, Peter Obi maintained that the organization is legitimate and constituted by him, Prof. Pat Utomi and other members of the National Working Committee of the Presidential Campaign Council in Nigeria with spread across the 36 states of the federation.

In adding more icing to the already baked cake, the Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, before  the full gallery of the Nigerian  media and in  admiration of the mammoth crowd, raised the hands of Dr. Fabian Ihekweme up and gave total recognition to his position in the state.

In his own words: “…and my own brother (Dr. Fabian Ihekweme), who is in charge”.

During his short remarks, Ihekweme, one of the early pioneers of the Obi-Datti Presidential Campaign Council before it became so crowded, promised to close ranks to win Imo State for the Labour Party and its presidential candidate, Peter Obi, in the 2023 general elections.

In his own words: “I am here to say a very big thank you to you. This is Imo State and I want to tell you most profoundly, that Imo State is yours. What we have here is an organic movement. Let nobody deceive you, what we are fighting for here is massive support for you, but when it comes to winning,  this place is  yours. Your Excellency, you recall that in 2019, we recorded 23% voter -apathy but this time we want to correct it and ensure massive turnout and support for you.

Commending ndi Imo for their show of support and solidarity, Ihekweme also recognized the candidate of Labour Party for Orlu Senatorial zone, Chief Charles Ahize alongside his spokesman, Dr. Batos Nwadike, Chief Basil Maduka, a governorship aspirant ahead of 2023 elections, Chief Ikechukwu Ukaegbu (Ikenga Ikeduru), 2019 governorship candidate of Labour Party in Imo,  Mr. Chima Chukwudi, a strategic stakeholder and critical leader of Labour  party, Big Tent Director of Operations, Amanze Nwadike, among others.

The highly enthusiastic surging crowd at the Rear Admiral Ndubuisi Kanu (RANK) Square, Owerri, in an unprecedented wave of solidarity bid Peter Obi farewell and journey mercies back home as the  Imo State Chairman of the Big Tent Obi-Datti Presidential Campaign Council, Dr. Fabian Ihekweme, Chief Ikechukwu Ukaegbu (Ikenga Ikeduru) and latter, Chief Charles Ahize, saw Peter Obi and his vice – presidential running mate, Dr. Ahmed Yusuf-Datti, off to the airport.