March 18: Hurricane Obidients scatters broom, tears umbrella
March 14, 2023
March 18: Hurricane Obidients scatters broom, tears umbrella
By Nnamdi Ojiego, Vincent Ujumadu, John Alechenu, Olasunkanmi Akoni, Ozioruva Aliu & Dickson Omobola
Ahead of the re-scheduled governorship and state assembly elections, there is apprehension in states where Labour Party, LP, recorded tremendous success at the presidential and National Assembly elections.
The anxiety, which is based on the possibility of a repeat of LP’s feat at the polls, has thrown the major parties, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and All Progressives Congress, APC, into a panic mood. Sunday Vanguard observed that should the voting pattern witnessed at the polls play out this Saturday, the outcome may not be favourable to the leading parties and their candidates. Banking on its performance, LP is optimistic about an eventful outing during the March 18 exercise.
Though the party’s presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi, lost the election, he won majority of votes in 12 states including Lagos and the Federal Capital Territory, FCT. The LP, powered by the Obidient Movement, is aiming to win at least 12 governorship seats at the polls this Saturday.
Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, had on March 1, 2023, announced Bola Tinubu of APC as the winner of the presidential election with 8.79 million votes. Obi received 6.1 million votes as the second runner-up.
Obi had since gone to court to challenge the outcome, claiming voter manipulation, suppression, disenfranchisement and rigging.
The former Anambra State governor, who was taunted as social media president, with no structure to win an election, surprised critics.
Mere Euphoria
Like Tinubu and Atiku Abubakar, many believed Obi could not win a local government election outside Anambra State let alone a presidential poll.
The states LP won include Lagos, Enugu, Nasarawa, Ebonyi, Abia, Delta, Anambra, Plateau, FCT, Edo, Cross River and Imo.
One of the shocking outcomes of the election was Obi’s victory in Lagos State.
LP won in nine out of 20 local governments to win the state with a total of 582,130 votes, while APC polled 571, 575.
Also, he won in Delta State, the stronghold of PDP where its vice-presidential candidate, Ifeanyi Okowa, is the incumbent governor.
Anxiety
The Obi wave also made it possible for the party to win six senatorial seats and 34 in the House of Representatives, HoR, making it the third most popular party in the 10th National Assembly.
Expectedly, the LP presidential result has provided a springboard for the governorship candidates on its platform, with Obidients assuring them of another victory.
In a chat with Sunday Vanguard, National Legal Adviser of LP, Akingbade Oyelekan, said the party would repeat the feat of February 25 on March 18.
His words:”I want to emphatically say that LP is taking Lagos on March 18, 2023. I want to let you know that what LP scored in Lagos was more than one million despite the harassment and intimidation.
“We are not targeting Lagos alone. The entire South-East is already in our bag. Rivers State is in our pocket. We have also made inroads into North Central. I’m talking about Benue, Plateau, and Nassarawa. We will also win Taraba, Bornu and Kaduna states.’’
Meanwhile, ahead of the polls, there are fears in some state chapters of APC and PDP over the growing popularity of the Obidient Movement.
LAGOS: For instance, in Lagos, as part of strategies to gain confidence, Governor Sanwo-Olu has set machinery in motion to interact with Igbo and other tribes.
The governor met an amalgamation of Igbo traders across 58 major markets in the state. He also interacted with others at the popular Computer Market.
However, LP governorship candidate in the state, Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, has seen his popularity grow beyond expectation. From a distant third position in the ranking, he has emerged as one of the frontrunners. The LP candidate is believed to be banking on the massive popularity of Obidient Movement in the state.
In the state, the latest dynamics appear to have made APC leadership embark on massive campaigns across strategic areas. As part of strategies to gain confidence, Governor Sanwo-Olu has set machinery in motion to interact with Igbo and other tribes.
The governor met an amalgamation of Igbo traders across 58 major markets in the state. He also interacted with traders at the popular Computer Market. The Igbo in Lagos constitute a strategic voting bloc, capable of determining the direction of the pendulum.
Apart from the governor, who enjoys overwhelming support in the state, the state chapter of APC is confident of victory.
The party’s spokesperson, Sola Oladejo, said APC isn’t perturbed by Afenifere’s endorsement of Rhodes-Viviour, saying Sanwo-Olu boasts of landmark achievements capable of earning him victory.
He said: “Lagosians will at the polls massively reject a candidate known not to identify with his purported heritage and needed historians to weave together some tales by moonlight to sell him to a people he cannot even speak their language.
At this time and age, it’s not sufficient to make the exploits of his progenitors his selling points to administer the fifth largest economy in Africa.”
EDO: In Edo where Obi also won the presidential election, both PDP and APC are unsettled by LP’s popularity. Governorship election won’t take place in the state, but House of Assembly poll would be held across the local government areas. During the presidential and National Assembly elections, LP won two of the seven House of Representatives seats and one senate position. Two legislative elections are still pending. Though PDP’s poor outing was largely attributed to the crisis between Governor Godwin Obaseki and the Dan Orbih-led faction, LP is now a household name in Edo. Ahead of Saturday’s exercise, both the APC and PDP are in a panic over a repeat of the presidential election feat.
RIVERS: Like Edo, LP and its candidates are popular. Their popularity dwarfs the image of Governor Nyesom Wike, who was largely accused of rigging the presidential election in favour of APC.
The Wike-led faction of PDP seems threatened by the acceptability of LP in the state, which may have informed the controversial endorsement of its candidate, Siminalayi Fubara, by a section of LP.
The state chairman of LP, Dienye Pepple, had backed Fubara, leading to her suspension by the party leadership. The state executive committee was consequently dissolved. At the moment, there is confusion in Rivers LP over who it’s backing. Despite the crisis rocking the party, LP national leadership has called on Rivers residents to vote for its governorship candidate, Mrs Beatrice Itubo, to prove a point.
He said: “Let us prove a point. Rivers is Obidient. It will be easier for us to prove that we won the state in the presidential election.
“Do not be deceived by the PDAPC’s ploy that you should vote for them. It’s a ploy to make regaining our mandate more difficult. A vote for our governor is a vote for our mandate as represented by Peter Obi.”
Regardless of the situation, LP is set to give the PDP and APC a good run in the governorship and state assembly polls.
ANAMBRA: In Anambra, Sunday Vanguard observed that the voting pattern would remain the same. People seem to be more determined to vote for LP, especially given what they described as the “stealing of Obi’s mandate.”
Apart from the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, the incumbent’s party, APC and PDP were thrown into confusion by Obi’s outing at the presidential polls.
But Governor Chukwuma Soludo appears upbeat ahead of the exercise, saying Anambra people would elect APGA candidates.
Soludo also described the call by Obi for the electorate in Anambra to vote for candidates of LP as a landmine for him.
Obi had, during a meeting with LP House of Assembly candidates in Awka, said their winning would not pose any danger for the Anambra governor, assuring that they would work with him for the progress of the state.
Reacting to Obi’s call, Soludo, through his Press Secretary, Mr Christian Aburime, said the call was deceptive and inappropriate, adding that it would amount to laying landmines for the governor.
MARCH 13, 2023 | NATIONAL GOOD SAMARITAN DAY | NATIONAL NAPPING DAY | NATIONAL K9 VETERANS DAY | NATIONAL JEWEL DAY | NATIONAL OPEN AN UMBRELLA INDOORS DAY | NATIONAL COCONUT TORTE DAY | NATIONAL EARMUFF DAY
MARCH 13, 2023 |
NATIONAL GOOD SAMARITAN DAY | NATIONAL NAPPING DAY | NATIONAL K9 VETERANS DAY | NATIONAL JEWEL DAY | NATIONAL OPEN AN UMBRELLA INDOORS DAY | NATIONAL COCONUT TORTE DAY | NATIONAL EARMUFF DAY
NATIONAL GOOD SAMARITAN DAY
National Good Samaritan Day on March 13th recognizes the unselfish actions of those who provide help when needed. The day is also known as Good Samaritan Involvement Day and celebrates kindness in all its forms.
Read more…
NATIONAL NAPPING DAY
Each year, National Napping Day recognizes our need the day following the return of daylight saving time. Not only does the observance encourage a nap, it reminds us that there’s no shame in taking one either. While preparing for the time change can offset the shock to our internal clock, many other things in our life may not handle the change so well causing us to still lose sleep. Young children and pets do not adjust as easily and certain work schedules do not permit early adjustment, either.
https://nationaldaycalendar.com/national-napping-day-day-after-return-of-daylight-saving-time/
NATIONAL K9 VETERANS DAY
March 13th recognizes National K9 Veterans Day and the dedicated K9 units who’ve served since World War II.
https://nationaldaycalendar.com/national-k9-veterans-day-march-13/
NATIONAL JEWEL DAY
National Jewel Day on March 13th recognizes the makers and the jewelers who create the special pieces that take our breath away. The day also recognizes the precious and semi-precious stones that go into beautiful pieces of jewelry. Each year, the day reminds us to wear those pieces and to appreciate the artisans who make them shine!
https://nationaldaycalendar.com/national-jewel-day-march-13/
NATIONAL OPEN AN UMBRELLA INDOORS DAY
National Open an Umbrella Indoors Day on March 13th annually is a national science experiment of sorts. Open an umbrella indoors and pay attention to whether or not you suffer any bad luck.
https://nationaldaycalendar.com/national-open-an-umbrella-indoors-day-march-13/
NATIONAL COCONUT TORTE DAY
National Coconut Torte Day on March 13th recognizes a rich dessert featuring the decadent flavor of coconut and decorated with it, too! Coconut lovers may enjoy this holiday savoring the delicious taste of this rich dessert.
https://nationaldaycalendar.com/national-coconut-torte-day-march-13/
NATIONAL EARMUFF DAY
National Earmuff Day on March 13th recognizes the creation of the protection that keeps our ears warm. The annual celebration highlights the history of the fun and innovative invention each year.
https://nationaldaycalendar.com/national-earmuff-day-march-13/
On Deck for March 14, 2023
National Days
NATIONAL WRITE DOWN YOUR STORY DAY NATIONAL PI DAY NATIONAL POTATO CHIP DAY NATIONAL CHILDREN’S CRAFT DAY NATIONAL LEARN ABOUT BUTTERFLIES DAY
Recipe of the Day
Irish Soda Bread
Prep: 10 minutes
Cook: 45 minutes
Total Prep: 55 minutes
Servings: 12
Ingredients:
4 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 cup sugar
1 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
6 tablespoons shortening
1/2 cup raisins
1 tablespoon caraway seed
1 1/4 cups buttermilk
1 egg, beaten
2 tablespoons butter, melted
Cinnamon
Sugar
Instructions:
Heat oven to 375F. Prepare a baking sheet, stone, or two cast iron skillets with a light coat of oil.
Combine flour, sugar, baking soda, baking powder, and salt in a large mixing bowl.
Cut in shortening and mix into a coarse crumble. Add raisins and caraway.
In a separate bowl, mix buttermilk and egg. Stir into the dough mixture.
On a lightly floured surface, kneed the dough for 5-6 minutes. Divide into two and place on prepared baking sheet. Shape into round loaves. Use a sharp knife to cut an X in the middle of each loaf. Brush melted butter over the top of each loaf and sprinkle with cinnamon and sugar.
Bake for 40-45 minutes or until golden brown.
March 13th Celebrated History
1877
Fifteen-year-old Chester Greenwood of Farmington, Maine received the first patent for
earmuffs.
1944
The comedy duo Abbot and Costello copyright their baseball comedy routine “Who’s on First.”
1956
RCA Victor releases Elvis Presley’s self-titled first album. The album included songs Blue Suede Shoes, Blue Moon, and I Got a Woman.
1969
Walt Disney releases The Love Bug nationwide. Starring Dean Jones, Michele Lee, David Tomlinson, and Buddy Hackett, the movie features a lovable and single-minded Volkswagen Beetle.
1978
CBS premiers The Incredible Hulk. Bill Bixby stars as David Banner.
March 13th Celebrated Birthdays
Abigail Fillmore – 1798
The fourteenth First Lady of the United States was the first of many teachers in the White House. When her husband Millard Fillmore took office after the death of President Zachary Taylor, First Lady Fillmore turned her attention to creating the first White House library.
Albert William Stevens – 1886
In the 1920s and 30s, the adventurous Army officer developed skills as a high-altitude pilot, balloonist, and photographer. Among his many accomplishments, he took the first photographs that showed the Earth’s curvature and the Moon’s shadow on the Earth’s surface during an eclipse.
Janet Flanner – 1921
“I act as a sponge. I soak it up and squeeze it out in ink every two weeks.” ~ Janet Flanner
For 50 years, the American journalist served as one of The New Yorker magazine’s first writers. She began writing for the magazine under the pen name Genet as the magazine’s Paris correspondent.
William H. Macy – 1950
The award-winning actor began his career in theatre. Today, Macy’s performances on both the small and big screens fill quite an array of characters. While his most memorable may be Frank Gallagher in Shameless and Jerry Lundegaard in Fargo, his Boogie Nights, Magnolia, and State and Main roles are also worth noting.
About National Day Calendar
National Day Calendar is the original and authoritative source for fun, unusual and unique National Days! Since our humble beginnings on National Popcorn Day in 2013, we have been tracking the National Days, National Weeks, National Months, and International Days. We became the first calendar of its kind to curate the days all in one place and tell their stories, too! Here at National Day Calendar, we are on a mission to Celebrate Every Day with you! And by you, we mean families, businesses, educators, and strangers we meet on the street. There’s more than one day for everyone.
At National Day Calendar, we discovered the National Days have a way of inspiring us. We’re honored to tell the stories behind the days and provide you with informational ways to incorporate the National Days into your business, family, schools, and home!