By Kamsi Anayo
Mr Peter Obi, the Presidential Candidate of Labour Party, has responded to remarks made about him by Gov. Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna state that he is just in the presidential race to entertain Nigerians as a Nollywood actor.
In an interview with TVC on Feb. 2, the Kaduna state governor said Obi does not have the necessary support across all states to win the presidential election.
El-Rufai, who described the LP candidate as a “Nollywood actor”, said Obi can only expect significant votes from the south-east and south-south, but not from the north and south-west.
“We are ahead. How can Peter Obi win any election? Peter Obi is polling one percent in Sokoto; two percent in Katsina; five percent in Kano. That’s where the votes are.
“All states are not equal. The fact that you’re doing 70 percent in Anambra state does not mean somebody doing 10 percent in Kano is not better than you.
“Kano is four million votes that actually happen. The number of votes in Anambra is the size of one local government area in Kaduna state. So, all states are not equal.
“If you poll states and you make them equal, yes, Peter Obi will sweep the south-eastern states; he will do well in south-south; where else?
“He’s not polling well in the south-west other than a drop in the ocean in Lagos. He’s polling in the Christian enclaves in the north — he’s polling well — but how many are they?
“Peter Obi cannot win the election. He doesn’t have the number of states; he doesn’t have 25 percent — the last time we checked — in more than 16 states. He can’t go anywhere.
“Peter Obi is a Nollywood actor and that’s all he will be. This election is between the APC and PDP because they have the footprint; they have the spread. Ethnicity and religious bigotry will not take you anywhere and that’s what the Labour Party campaign is about.
“We are the only party with a candidate with a broad-based support across Nigeria, and by the grace of God, we are going to win,” El Rufai stated.
Reacting on Sunday during an Arise TV live interview , Obi thanked El Rufai for giving him some percentage which indicates that he has the potential to develop those percentages and improve the lots of Nigerians by moving the country from consumption to production.
“I thank Gov. El Rufai for giving me some percentage. I will work harder. I am happy he says I am an actor.
“ Since he has recognized me as an actor, it then means that I will be able to improve on the entertainment industry in Nigeria,” which according to him can improve the country’s GDP.