The Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party, Mr. Peter Obi, has described Chief Arthur Eze as “a respected father.”

He also said Chief Eze “is entitled to his own opinions and beliefs.”

Obi said these yesterday while reacting to the recent statement of Chief Arthur Eze urging him to step down from the presidential contest.

Speaking to journalist at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos, yesterday, Obi said Chief Arthur Eze is “a respected father, not just in Igboland but in Nigeria.”

Obi explained that “like every other person, Arthur Eze has the rights to his own opinion, beliefs and freedom of speech, which should be respected.”

The Labour Party Presidential Candidate however advised his supporters and all Nigerians not to allow “adverse comments to dampen their spirit or force them to lose focus on the goal.”

  “Such speeches should always be taken positively, as reminding us that we still have several hurdles to cross and to remain focused at all times, without being dragged  back”, Obi said.

Obi further reiterated his preparedness to remain with many suffering Nigerians, who see in the 2023 election, the hope for Nigeria to overcome the sufferings of the past and start a new chapter in her development.

Asked who he referred to as “suffering Nigerians”, Obi said “everybody is suffering in the Nigeria of today, but some are more directly affected, such as “the millions of people who do not know where the next meal will come from; thousands of Nigerian students who no longer go to school on account of hardship; those who cannot get adequate health care due to the collapse of that sector, over 100 million Nigerians that live in poverty.”

Obi also said he had decided to devote the rest of his life “towards contributing to solving the myriad of Nigeria’s problems.”

 He, again, called on Nigerians of goodwill to join him in the cause for the “emancipation of the country.”