By David-Chyddy Eleke
Sometimes I wonder what gives this man confidence. I just wonder how he feels safe to do certain things. To work with a man like Peter Obi as his security aide must be so very difficult.
On Monday I joined him to some institutions in Onitsha where he went to make donations. We arrived late at the Basilica of the Most Holy Trinity where the mass to signpost the opening of Shanahan University was ongoing. We were late, so he sat at the back. I pitied his security aide who was innocently trying to protect his principal from everyone, but failed.
As everyone passing by stopped to confer with Obi, and when the security guy tries to wade them off, the oga is already in their embrace or shaking hands or talking into each others ears. I noticed the frustration of the DSS personnel and I pitied him.
After mass, every big man, every poor man, just everybody wanted to have a piece of Obi, and they all did. Outside the church, even the security guys carrying guns couldn’t scare anyone. Some people even shoved them aside to speak with Obi.
At Nkpor, some little boys playing football on the street kicked it into a car in his convoy and the ball bust. When they saw gun totting security men, they ran away, but Obi noticed it and went to the boys so say sorry and gave them money to buy a new football. You needed to see the smiles on their faces.
When we were leaving School of Nursing Sciences Nkpor, suddenly the convoy stopped by the roadside and Peter Obi alighted to greet some women walking by. Next thing, he carried the child of another one, and little by little, people started gathering. As he spoke with the women while walking along the road, the convoy tailed behind in slow pace. This was happening on a Monday, when even mere mortals stay at home for fear of attacks.
Val Obienyem had mentioned to me if I could join to Anyingba in Kogi State to make donations, but because of a UNICEF job I had in Enugu, I couldn’t make it.
But I was not surprised when I read from Val that while on that mission, they got to a spot in Olamaboro, Benue State where trailer drivers blocked the road to protest maltreatment by security personnel, and Obi alighted and went to them to douse the tension.
He succeeded. The trailer driver whose tire was punctured by security men simply said in resignation, “if Peter Obi can humble himself to beg me, who am I not to accept.” The road opened immediately (see attached picture).
Obi connects with the people easily, but sometimes I fear for his safety, because it is unwise to think that everyone loves you.
This man is in a world of his own, and only him can confess what gives him confidence that all is well.
Eleke is an Anambra journalist. He wrote in via donbaron2004@gmail.com
