IBADAN, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA) – Joseph Kalimbwe, a Zambian politician at the ruling United Party for National Development of Hakainde Hichilema (UNDP), has reacted to the presidential candidate of Labour Party, Peter Obi being tagged Twitter President.
The former president of the African Union youth simulation, on Wednesday via Twitter, compared Peter Obi to UNDP leader, President Hakainde Hichilema or Nelson Chamisa, as he advised Nigerians to vote out failure.
Hakainde Hichilema is a Zambian businessman, and politician who is the seventh and current president of Zambia since 24 August 2021.
He became the president after contesting in five previous elections (2006, 2008, 2011, 2015 and 2016) and eventually won the 2021 presidential election with over 59% of the vote.
Prior to his election, Hichilema was a major opponent of Edgar Lungu, the President of Zambia from 2015 to 2021.
On 11 April 2017, Hichilema was arrested and charged with treason, a move that was seen as an illegitimate act by Lungu to silence a political rival.
The arrest and charge were widely condemned, with protests held in Zambia and abroad, demanding Hichilema’s release and condemning the increasing authoritarianism of Lungu’s regime.
Hichilema was released from prison on 16 August 2017, and the charge of treason was dropped.
Meanwhile Nelson Chamisa is a Zimbabwean politician and the current President of the Citizens Coalition For Change.
He served as a Member of the House of Assembly of Zimbabwe for Kuwadzana East, Harare.
Chamisa was the MDC Alliance’s candidate for president in the 2018 general election, having previously been the leader of the party’s youth assembly.
Chamisa established his CCC party in January this year and will be looking to end Zanu PF’s four-decades-long stranglehold on power in elections due next year.
Kalimbwe compared the duo from two different African countries to Obi because according to him, the former Anambra State governor have been written off but the youths have the power to vote their choice into power.
He tweeted: “There’s a guy in Nigeria called Peter Obi. You can compare him to our UPND leader, President Hichilema or with Chamisa. He is galvanizing youths but the establishment has written him off for a Twitter President. African Youths; like we did here in Zambia, vote out failures !!!”
The 29-year-old politician’s tweet stirred a lot of reactions from Nigerians on Twitter.
A tweep, Abayomi Khabeer Olayemi said: “Dear poster, research about a guy called @YeleSowore .You will recant this error. Peter Obi is the sponsored project of the establishment aimed at distracting the youth. Only Omoyele Sowore represents hope and anti-establishment. #WeCantContinueLikeThis
@longman007 replied Olayemi and said: “Edo no be Lagos. Osun no be Lagos. Zambia no be Nigeria… We have our own way of doings and we won’t need international kini with failures to tell us what we need to do😂😂😂”
@thecuteyuwa who doesn’t understand @longman007’s tweet, asked him to shed more light.
“Our own way of doing things is how chief? Africa is miles behind in everything except population, how has your ways of doing things helped us chief? We are over 60 years of independence surely you’re tired of blaming colonizers and running to foreign countries? No?”
Ayodele Michael weighed in. He wrote: “@joseph_kalimbwe, the Man you tweet about was a governor of a state for 8 years with nothing to point at as a dividend of democracy for the people. If past antecedents are important in determining the next Nigerian Leader, then internet hyping will not lead him to the Villa.”
Olallekann who disagreed with Kalimbwe that Peter Obi is Nigeria’s preferred candidate said: ” I am sure you are not comparing your Zambia to Nigeria? Nigeria was never a failure and so are her citizens. We will triumph over all prophecies of doom but, not with PO who has know track record of good governance that can be be referenced now.”
@Ayomide_Kevin also tweeted:“The state the leading candidate, Tinubu governed for 8 years has a bigger GDP than your country, Zambia. You will need to stay away from our election, Nigeria and Zambia are not mates.”
Another tweep, @VicariousOk fired back at Kalimbwe: “Lagos has a high GDP because of the people you’re asking to vacate Lagos and because of the fact that the government has refused to open other ports….not because of Tinubu.”