Convergence Of Sea And Lagoon: Soludo, Obi's Meeting After Controversial Exchange

There is a widespread belief that a sea and a lagoon cannot meet. But for the first time since Governor Charles Soludo’s controversial article, which rests on the viability of the presidential aspiration of the Labour Party, LP, candidate Peter Obi, they met at St. Patrick’s Catholic Cathedral, Awka, yesterday.

The occasion was the thanksgiving Mass for the Catholic Bishop of Awka Diocese, Most Rev. Paulinus Ezeokafor, who celebrated his 70th birthday.

Governor Soludo left the pew he was seated to embrace the LP presidential candidate before the commencement of the church service.

The show of brotherhood

The two political stakeholders have been on the wrong side of the divide lately.

More than once, Governor Soludo has publicly expressed his opinions about Obi, which attracted nothing but criticisms from the supporters of the LP candidate.

But yesterday, they both hugged each other to the admiration of the congregation. 

My views do not mean I have a rift with Obi — Soludo

During the thanksgiving Mass, Soludo restated that there was no feud between him and the former governor.

He divulged that he had spoken with the presidential candidate twice before the meetup but maintained that his actions lately were displays of the truth because he is not one of those politicians that speak from the two sides of the mouth.

“There’s no rift between Obi and me at a personal level. Nobody snatched each other’s wife.

"What appears to be the rift between us is fundamental political differences—nothing else".

He added that the political misunderstanding between “the two brothers” is a discussion that will continue to progress to benefit the people of their state. 

What next?

Even though the two politicians have maintained that they are on good terms, their supporters disagree with their positions. 

Notably, their supporters on social media have been at loggerheads: Peter Obi supporters have labelled Soludo’s comments as one filled with envy.

Some youths are even calling for the governor’s resignation or immediate impeachment. 

On the other hand, people who buy Soludo’s point of view agree that the two-term governor cannot get to the most revered seat the way he is playing his politics.  

They feel that Soludo hit the nail on the head, and the speakers of the truth are constantly chastised for being honest.

The linkage

The sea and the lagoon cannot meet but Peter Obi and his political enemy but real-time friend met yesterday with no rift.

Meanwhile, though they both played down the rumour of a potential quarrel, none of them has denied that there is a political disagreement, a disagreement we don’t know when it will go to rest.