Matter Dei Catholic Cathedral in Umuahia, Abia State was a beehive of crowd that came to catch a glimpse of Mr Peter Obi, the 2023 Presidential candidate of the Labour Party, who was in Abia State. Obi, who was a guest at an interdenominational prayer meeting put together by the Catholic Action of Nigeria, Umuahia diocesan chapter, expressed worry at the rising level of hunger and total poverty in the land, despite Nigeria’s abundant natural and human resources. Obi, who advised Nigerians to verify candidates running for elective posts in 2023, noted that failure to do so could lead the nation to anarchy.
He rejected the tag of being a stingy man, saying, “I am not stingy. Use public money for public good”. Obi pointed out that as Governor of Anambra State; he did not receive anything from anybody. Obi rather, explained that he saved and left huge money in the coffers of Anambra State to be used by his successor. Speaking at the event, the governorship candidate of Labour Party in Abia State, Dr Alex Otti said that Peter Obi possessed the qualities needed to fix and turn around the fortunes of the nation for prosperity.
Delivering his speech, the Auxiliary Bishop of Umuahia Catholic Diocese Bishop, Michael Kalu Ukpong urged Nigerians to embark on interdenominational prayers for God’s intervention in Nigeria and charged Nigerians to make the right choice in 2023 through their votes. Bishop Ukpong who was represented by Rev Fr. Henry Maduka, the Cathedral Chancellor, said “God is now giving us a new opportunity by next year”, urging Nigerians to vote and defend their votes. The Prelate of Methodist Church Nigeria, His Eminence Samuel Kanu-Uche and the Chairman of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Abia State chapter, Rev Emmanuel Agomuo and several priests from some other Christian denominations attended the prayer meeting.
During the event, it was observed that several residents of Umuahia thronged the Matter Dei Catholic Cathedral to catch a glimpse of Peter Obi, whom they described as the rave of the season and the face of the new hope. Earlier on Saturday morning, Mr Peter Obi paid a courtesy call on Governor Okezie Ikpeazu’s country home in Umuobiakwa, Obingwa LGA, where he was received by the Governor. Obi told his host that that he was on his way to Matter Dei Catholic Cathedral for an event but decided to pay him a visit, as courtesy demands. The presidential candidate and his host took time discuss a wide range of issues concerning security, economy and politics.
Governor Ikpeazu who expressed his joy to receive his visitor, presented him with a souvenir bag containing the first ever Abia State Long Term Development Plan and the Abia State Industrial Policy which was presented to the Governor on Friday by ECOWAS Representative at the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO).
