Nigerians in Germany convened in Frankfurt on Friday for an Interactive session with the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi. Joe Mmeh reports on the event

In what could be described as a town hall meeting with Nigerians in Germany, Peter Obi, Labour Party presidential candidate for the 2023 general elections, made a speech after which he took questions from a cross-section of the audience.

For about four hours, Mr Obi answered questions and interacted with Nigerians on issues bordering on education, security, agriculture, sports, investment, politics, sustainable development, diaspora votes and participation.

It was also a pleasant surprise to Obi when one of the participants, rather than ask a question chose to recognize and commend the politician’s previous efforts in supporting human capacity development. He narrated how he benefitted from Obi’s educational policy when he was governor of Anambra State and how Obi sponsored him to study in Switzerland. Today the young man is a PhD holder and works as a consultant in Switzerland.  

To everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under the heaven; now is the time to fix Nigeria, seems to be the common expression of both the speaker, Peter Obi, and the Nigerians that gathered to welcome him in Frankfurt.

In his speech, Obi expressed strong belief in the role of diasporans in the development of Nigeria, citing examples of businesses that could flourish if made possible by good governance, where rule of law is the norm.

On the other hand, participants expressed deep appreciation to Peter Obi for volunteering to take up this great task of bringing about change in Nigeria, which is currently in a most difficult situation. They also expressed that his heart of love for fellow Nigerians irrespective of religion, tribe and ethnicity, his humility and graciousness in words, his use of facts and figures, always focusing on the issues at hand rather than blaming others, has endeared him to them.

ObiDients, as supporters of Peter Obi are called, see his lifestyle as “leadership by example”, which is worthy of emulation. This was implied by the call to “all Fellow ObiDients to emulate our leader, His Excellency Peter Obi, in all our communications as we work to take back our dear country from the doldrums”, according to one of the participants.

The Nigerian diasporans who gathered in Frankfurt on Friday expressed the hope that when Peter Obi assumes office as President, Nigeria would join the league of nations under good governance, where rule of law is the norm, and that they will bring their professionalisms, ideas and networks to support his mission of making Nigeria a productive economy rather than a consuming economy.

Obi talked about the possibility of turning every community into a production hub, based on the natural endowment of the community. An idea that is plausible given the plethora of natural resources ranging from agricultural to mineral resources as well as a teaming population of resourceful young Nigerians.