Peter Obi is a bourgeoisie that’s tied to the apron of the establishment. He will not change anything.
With the 2023 elections in view, Nigeria needs to make a quick detour from of its descent into vagaries and abjectness, by electing a President that is not in any way or form tied to the aprons of the same political class who plunged her into the slough.
The moral quality and the true intents of anyone seeking to lead the charge for a new chapter in our national life has to be irreproachable. Which is why the character of Peter Obi, a leading contender at the upcoming Presidential Election, has to be spotlighted. Nigeria cannot afford another disaster.
Peter Obi is a bourgeoisie that’s tied to the apron of the establishment. He will not change anything. If that’s in doubt, his second visit to former military President Ibrahim Babangida just underscores the assertion. Babangida and his military buddies helped to supervise Nigeria into the mess it is. They looted the treasury and stole our commonwealth in trust for their unborn generations. Yet, Peter Obi has to consult with him twice in as many months? The people who were key contributors to Nigeria’s current sorry state cannot guide her into prosperity.
However, the herd following that Obi enjoys has continued to suppress the germane and fundamental questions the mass of the people should be asking about how their fortunes will change with him as President.
This is symptomatic of 2015, when Nigerians in their numbers entrusted General Muhammadu Buhari with their lives and goodwill by the overwhelming support they gave him against an incumbent President. Fast forward to 2022, most of those supporters are wishing they hadn’t made that mistake. Peter Obi is another Buhari waiting to happen.
He has yet to submit a policy document for the scrutiny and interrogation of Nigerians - from his Economic plans, to Restructuring, to Constitutional Reforms (by way of adopting past recommendations or entirely drafting a new constitution), Fiscal Federalism, Devolution of Power, Insecurity, and Justice, Equity and Fairness (all of which have since been thrown to the dogs since 2015).
Although, most of his promises speak to the immediacy of the Nigerian people’s needs, but he appears to be taking advantage of Nigeria’s dire situation by speaking to its issues without outlining how he plans to make them happen.
He reportedly claimed to have understudied the Egyptian government’s energy policy, as a solution to Nigeria’s energy problems but when asked about how he hopes to go about it, he goes blank and keeps askers guessing, at best.
The major challenge of insecurity is being glossed over. The other day, his Deputy struggled on National Television when asked about their blueprint for insecurity.
In the build up to the 2019 elections, as PDP Vice Presidential candidate, Obi’s penchant for referencing the Chinese economy was second to none. In fact, he was serially bursted for erroneously making quotes and bandying bogus figures about - he has since stopped. Apparently, the falsehoods were not sustainable.
He has yet to reference China since he started going about with his campaign after he defected to the Labour Party.
Some have said he stopped mentioning China because they have stiffer penalties for corrupt officials. So, if you must reference China’s economic policies, its hardline stance on corruption should also not be ignored.
Nigeria is at a critical crossroad where it desperately needs to eradicate corruption and build strong institutions and a robust economy as well as critical infrastructure; whilst also making sure that corrupt politicians pay for their crimes of looting the treasury, as a deterrent to upcoming thieves seeking public office. A Peter Obi who hobnobs with known criminal elements and constantly seeks the blessings of politicians who deserve no honour, cannot be entrusted with a complex Nigeria. He continues to revere key elements who ruined this country, in the name of political expediency. Such a person cannot implement the total institutional reforms that Nigeria needs. His visits to the so-called owners of Nigeria say so.
The earlier Nigerians realize that only a brave and courageous anti-establishment person can deliver us from the stranglehold of the thieving political class, the better.
Ade-Adedeji Adeyera
Abuja, Nigeria