… Urges supporters to respect clergyman’s right to hold opinion
The Labour Party presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi will find time as soon as he returns from his knowledge – enriching trip to Egypt to interact with the Spiritual Director of the Adoration Ministries Enugu, Nigeria (AMEN), Rev. Fr. Ejike Mbaka and clarify, where necessary, on his obvious misconceptions about Obi’s character.
This was contained in a statement issued on Thursday by Peter Obi Support Network (POSN) and signed by its Director, Strategic Communication, Mr. Onwuasoanya FCC Jones.
The statement noted that the interaction with the priest was necessary as Mr. Peter Obi held Reverend Father Mbaka and the entire Adoration Ministries Family, Enugu in very high esteem.
It, however, urged the supporters of Mr. Peter Obi to respect the opinion of the ‘revered’ clergyman as well as appreciate his right to hold such.
The statement, therefore, observed that Mr. Peter Obi was a prudent investor in human capital development and religious works which were evident in his multimillion Naira investments across different Church parishes, schools, hospitals and in individual interventions in setting up young entrepreneurs and innovators in different fields.
It, however, opined that in line with the Biblical injunction in Matthew 6:3, Mr. Peter Obi did not have the habit of advertising his philanthropic interventions and did not wish to learn that this time maintaining that in and out of government, Peter Obi had intervened in several humanitarian situations within and outside the shores of Nigeria.
The statement further disclosed that notably, Peter Obi had donated to building and renovation of schools, hospitals and other public infrastructure without making noise about it.
“We understand that Reverend Father Mbaka is one clergyman who is highly passionate about Nigeria’s redemption and greatness and we look forward to working closely with him towards actualizing this shared dream of a ‘working, equitable, free and productive country’ from 2023.
“However, it is important to point out that unlike what Father Mbaka might have been led to believe, Obi is a kind, but self-effacing human capital developer. We cannot outline one tenth of his humanitarian, social and educational development interventions across Nigeria, but a few will suffice.
“As a businessman, he has thousands of employees across his businesses whom he pays well. For years, Peter Obi has donated billions of Naira to schools; he gave N2 million and N1 million each to about 20 schools in Nasarawa and Kogi States for books and classroom desks when he was not contesting for election.
“Peter Obi has gone as far as Sokoto State to support education and the current governor of Sokoto State, Aminu Tambuwal can attest to Peter Obi’s multifarious human based philanthropy and educational development initiatives. In Benue, he has undertaken the renovation of schools without bringing the paparazzi along with him because he believes that humanistic interventions shouldn’t be done for political advantage.
“Borne out of his passion for humanitarian service, he began his refugee work long before he ever became the Governor of Anambra State. He has been to Afghanistan, Rwanda, and Haiti doing refugee work as his contribution to alleviating the plight of citizens of the crisis ravaged countries. When Haiti was almost wiped out by hurricane, he donated and coordinated his friends to raise about two hundred thousand Dollars ($200,000.00) to salvage the poor black Caribbean nation.
“His N100 Million donation to Bishop Shanahan College in Enugu State is one of many such interventions in schools within and outside the Southeast.
As Peter Obi will always say, being in politics is not only about contesting and winning elections but finding ways to touch lives positively in or outside government”, the statement said.
It added that Peter Obi had so far visited over 150 schools which included about 40 health institutions across the federation adding that he had committed millions to social, educational and healthcare projects.
“Part of his pastimes is visiting hospitals quietly to pay bills of indigent patients”, it added.
While insisting that Peter Obi was open to new ideas and new strategies as long as they do not conflict with his well rooted godly principles in prudence, humility and impactful philanthropy, the statement added that he shall welcome ideas on how to alleviate any humanitarian situation but would not bring himself into the showiness that had defined some ill-motivated philanthropy.
“We urge our supporters to please respect the revered clergyman’s opinion and appreciate his right to hold such”, it appealed.
Obi had travelled to Egypt to understudy the country’s power, education and sundry sectors.
Mbaka, had in a viral video called Obi a stingy man , stressing that he would not be president of Nigeria.
Photo: (L-R): Rev. Fr. Ejike Mbaka, Spiritual Director, Adoration Ministries Enugu, Nigeria (AMEN) and the Labour Party presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi.
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