ENUGU, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)- Ahead of the 2023 presidential election, a political group under the auspices of, 40Million Ballots Movement, on Monday unveiled ‘Fund40MB Donation Campaign’, to support Mr. Peter Obi, the presidential candidate Labour Party (LP).
The event had in attendance many Nollywood actors, actresses, singers, comedians and other celebrities in the entertainment industry.
Also, the event featured several support groups for Peter Obi.
The Convener of the group, Mr. Kennedy Iyere, described the initiative as a youth-driven 2023 ballot revolution, adding that it was meant to raise funds for the actualization of Obi’s presidency.
The convener noted also that the fundraising was to sustain the momentum and mobilize campaigns in support of Obi in the forthcoming general elections.
He said: “We don’t want money to be an issue. The determination is in young people to take back their country and rescue Nigeria from the precipice.
“This is what Fund40MB is all about. An account has been created for the donation for campaigns to raise money worldwide for the various support groups of Peter Obi to carry out rural sensitisation, door-to-door campaigns and other programmes.
“This is independent of Peter Obi and the Labour Party. We are financing every interest group that will work for democracy and a democratic transition in favour of Peter Obi.
“The funds we are also going to raise through this medium shall be used to fight rigging, violence and all forms of malpractice. That’s why the FUND40MB Donation Campaign has been kicked started today.”
Iyere said that the fundraising was to confront politicians who might want to use money as strength, to fight the will of God’s purpose which would not work.
According to him, the step has become imperative for the survival of the nation, as the youth are now rising from their sleep to take back their nation in 2023.
“When youths have risen up, anything is possible. The youth are ready to take back their nation. The time for Nigeria’s political redemption is now.
“Nigeria has just one upward option, and that is the youth revolution. Peter Obi is no longer himself, he has become a global phenomenon.
“2023 is going to be a very peculiar election with two players-masses against the elites, and the masses must win the game,” he added.
According to him, Nigerians and non-Nigerians would contribute to the funding of Obi’s campaigns, saying the former Anambra governor deserved assistance for his campaign to be the most celebrated.
On her part, an actress Patience Ozokwor, said if Nigeria had got leadership right, her material resources and endowment would have made the country stand out in the comity of nations.
Ozokwor, popularly known as Mama G, noted that celebrities were solidly behind Obi to provide the right leadership for the nation.
She explained that any donation for his campaign remained an investment Nigerian children and unborn children would later reap.
“We want anybody that loves Nigeria and wants everything good for Nigeria to please donate no matter how small. Children, youths and God want Obi.
“We have seen that Obi as a former governor is prudent with public funds and used same judiciously. He has credibility. We want him to come and change things and mend things,” she said.
Speaking also, the President of the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN), Ejezie Rollas, said that many celebrities had stood aloof for long, unconcerned about politics.
Rollas said that this had led to many challenges facing the industry and complaints by practitioners.
He pledged his support for Obi’s presidential ambition and said that celebrities must be interested in making the nation work well for all and sundry.
Other celebrities in attendance include Klint De Drunk, John Okafor (Mr Ibu), Jerry Williams, Paul Obazele, Rita Arum, Joyce Kalu, Bishop Ime and Alex Osifo.
The Obi support groups in attendance include Like Minds for Peter Obi, Peter Obi Movement, and Peter Obi Support Network.