Former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has blasted those who keep describing his supporters, popularly known as Obidients, as “street urchins.” He recently revealed that his politics is about identifying with ordinary Nigerians, not the privileged elite.
Reacting to Kenneth Okonkwo, a former Labour Party chieftain, who recently accused him of “attracting classless street urchins” and failing to restrain his followers from spreading falsehoods.
According to him, it is incredibly unfortunate to see how some Nigerians continually look down on their fellow citizens in a degrading manner.
Emphasising that tagging people as street urchins who have no value is condescending, he stated that every Nigerian, regardless of social or economic status, deserves dignity and respect.
“Humanity is paramount in my politics. No street urchins.
Lately, I have heard a few people say that those who follow Peter Obi are low-class Nigerians, and some have even gone as far as calling them ‘street urchins’ and people of no value.
I have never and will never look down on anyone, except to lift them up. After all, we can only rise by lifting others.
My involvement in politics has never been about associating with the so-called high and mighty, but about standing with the ordinary Nigerians whose voices have been silenced and whose resources have been stolen by the same ‘big names’ who now parade themselves with all sorts of titles and names,” he said.
He further argued that such elitist comments reflect the present state of Nigeria, where hardship and inequality have led to the ridicule of underprivileged Nigerians.
Obi concluded by saying that leadership lies in uplifting the weak, so he’ll keep committing to inclusive politics.
“No Nigerian is of no value. No Nigerian is a street urchin. It speaks volumes about the state of our nation that everyday Nigerians are now battered by poverty and hardship to the point their leaders refer to them as of no value and urchins.
Every Nigerian deserves dignity, opportunity, and care. True leadership is not about mocking the weak, it is about lifting them up,” he added.
Folami David is a dynamic journalist who views the world through an analytical lens, translating complex narratives across multiple industries into compelling stories. With an insatiable appetite for information and a keen eye for emerging trends, Folami specializes in uncovering the interconnections between technology, business, culture, and society.
