The presidential candidate of Labour Party, Peter Obi, was welcomed with loud cheers from his teeming supporters upon his arrival at Alaba International Market in Lagos State on Saturday.
Obi made a stop at the market ahead of a town hall and campaign rally at Tafawa Balewa Square (TBS).
“We just arrived at the Alaba international market to an awesome reception. We’re pondering what the rally will be like. LP is Finishing Strong. Salute to all Obidients and the Nigerian Youths,” he tweeted.
Around 11 am, Obi arrived at Alaba International Market, his first stop in Lagos. He is expected to address his supporters before moving to a town hall and finally the campaign rally at Tafawa Balewa Square (TBS).
The LP candidate said he has travelled round the country and he is more abreast of the problems now than ever, telling the traders and their families to hold him responsible.
According to him, the market was built by hard-working people and since then, nothing has been done by the government to improve the market. He promised to come back as President to address all the issues confronting the area.
Obi urged the supporters not to allow anyone to intimidate them, following rumours he heard that a vote for him would result in negative consequences for them.
He promised to stand solidly by them no matter what, as according to him Nigeria belongs to all.
Also present at the event is the LP governorship candidate in Lagos, Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour.
After meeting with Alaba Market traders, Obi was inundated by the surging crowd, making it difficult for him to make his way out.
Security officers were overwhelmed as the traders were insistent on escorting the presidential candidate to the highway from within the market where the rally was held, a distance of about three kilometres.
Meanwhile, some of Obi’s supporters have been attacked by hoodlums ahead of his final campaign rally in the state on Saturday.
The supporters were attacked with machetes and other objects as they made their way to Tafawa Balewa Square (TBS) where the rally is to be held.
Medical personnel at TBS had their hands full as they attended to the injured.
Videos and pictures shared on social media also showed some individuals believed to be Obi’s supporters with bruises, as well as vandalised buses and cars purportedly deployed to transport supporters for the various events to be held by the party.
One of the other major parties in the state and its presidential candidate was blamed for the attacks.
An activist and Obi supporter, Rinu Oduala, said, “‘Obidients are bullies’. But one party is currently trying to prevent LP rally in Lagos by sponsoring attacks with thugs armed with machetes and guns. The wickedness of our ‘intellectuals and celebrities’ isn’t talked about enough.”
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