Between Peter Obi and Charles Soludo -By Rev. Father Oluoma

Both are illustrious sons of Igbo land, from same state and will share same fact of having governed Amambra state for 8 years under same party once Soludo completes his second tenure.

For some reasons, Soludo and Obi are not on same page in National politics. It is obvious that Governor Charles Soludo isn’t one of those excited about Peter Obi’s quest for the presidency. This is unsettling and unnerving to many Obidients of Igbo origin who see it as sabotage. Yet, Charles Soludo is not alone. There are other igbos who pitch their tent with either Tinubu or Atiku.

Just as we have some Yorubas who will literally die for Peter Obi. Dele Farotimi is one. In fact, Farotimi doesn’t spare Tinubu, his tribesman. What I don’t know yet is whether his fellow yorubas call him a saboteur and insult and disparage him for for pitching tent with ‘omo’ igbo against his fellow Yoruba.
Well, this piece is targeted at my fellow igbos who have taken sides between Peter Obi and Charles Soludo.

You can actually support Sir Peter Obi with all your heart without antagonizing, insulting and disparaging Soludo or anyone else that doesn’t. Same goes for those who support Soludo, you can support him with your full chest without antagonizing Peter Obi. We are not in a situation where we must choose one and throw the other away, not at all. Both of them are important to us as igbos.

Like religion, Politics can stir up our emotions and throw us into frenzy, but we must intentionally control it. Taking sides with one politician doesn’t mean antagonizing the other. Supporting Peter Obi doesn’t mean I should not acknowledge Tinubu when he does something right.

I will not be the first to point out that some Igbos have a knack for insults and vituperations against anyone that has a contrary position to theirs. This is not healthy. What Peter needs from you is your vote first, then your ability to convince others to vote for him along with you. He doesn’t need you to be insulting Soludo or anyone else who opposes his candidacy.

You alone will insult fellow igbos, then yorubas, hausas, fulanis, Edos and anyone from anywhere who prefers another candidate to yours. Peter Obi doesn’t insult Soludo and vice versa, and I’m pretty sure he didn’t hire you to do such for him.

Let’s leave the bigger issues of hypocrisy where we excuse and condone same attitude by our favorite politician that we condemn vociferously in others. I won’t delve into that yet, let’s just start with this simple one.

The politician or people you are insulting today because of another may eventually be the one you will need tomorrow to put food on your table. If you didn’t learn this hard and cold fact from El Rufai and Buhari, from Reno, Bwala and President Tinubu, you are too dumb to learn anything.