The presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 general elections, Mr. Peter Obi, has been making promises to restore the country’s past glory if elected president in 2023. In the face of the worsening insecurity, economic woes and other challenges facing the country, PAUL OKAH wonders if Obi could the Messiah.
“And so it came to pass” is a popular poem by revolutionary Nigerian poet, short story writer, playwright and critical essayist, Funso Aiyejina, which captures the deception of African nay Nigerian politicians, who make promises of Eldorado every election season, only to dash hopes of the electorate when they get into offices.
“And so it came to pass, many seasons after the death of one Savior that a new crop of saviors, armed with party programmes, came cascading down our rivers of hope…” are the iconic lines of the evergreen political poem that best explains the political firmament experienced in Nigeria whenever there is need for a transition.
Ahead of next year’s general elections, candidates of the various political parties have been making mouth-watering promises on how they will turn around the fortunes of the country and make Nigerians smile again.
Despite the fact that formal campaigns are to kick off, according to the timeline of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), candidates have been campaigning informally and raising the hopes of citizens.
The presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Mr. Peter Obi, after contesting as the running mate to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar in the 2019 election and losing on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), defected to the LP in May this year and subsequently emerged as the party’s flag-bearer.
Armed with what he referred to as the blueprint to re-take and reposition Nigeria and change it from a consuming nation to a productive nation, Obi has been comparing nations and painting a pathetic picture of Nigeria as it is and telling people to “go and verify” his achievements as the Anambra state governor and how he will replicate the same achievements if voted for.
However, despite the laudable plans of the LP candidates, many people believe that Obi is just playing to the gallery as he could say anything to garner votes from gullible and unsuspecting Nigerians, especially as there are other experienced candidates in the race, including the PDP candidate, Atiku, and the candidate of the ruling All Progressives Party (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
‘Nigeria’s problems bigger than Obi’
Speaking with this reporter, a scholar, Mrs Anita Ikem, said although Obi has good intentions for the country, the country’s problems are bigger than what he thinks he can handle.
She said: “I feel pity for Mr Peter Obi. I watch him a lot on a daily basis trying to inform Nigerians on the realities on ground. I have also read a lot about the credentials of Obi’s running mate, Ahmed Datti, and APC’s Muslim-Muslim ticket. Nigeria has been badly damaged and I just have pity for the next president. It will be tough for the next president to correct the years of maladministration by both the PDP and APC. Just where will he start? The debt burden, insecurity and institutional corruption are so bad that the next president will have a tough time to deal with.
“Though I root for Peter Obi, the reality on ground is that Nigeria’s problems are bigger than what Obi will handle. Insecurity is a terrible menace. You can wake and your life will be cut short in a place where insecurity reigns. It’s not about having money or not. Insecurity has no respect for the rich or the poor. Imagine being in church and terrorists strike.
“A few weeks ago, the presidential brigade of guard was attacked. That is a highly decorated team of trained soldiers. For the bandits to start attacking the FCT, it means the game is up. So, nowhere would be safe again. The government has failed in their very core responsibility of securing lives and property. In a nutshell, Obi may be a good candidate, but the issues in Nigeria are more than he can handle. He has a lot of disadvantages, but it is well with all the candidates. I wish them all the best.”
Obi’s tsunami?
On his part, a Canada-based ICT consultant, Nathaniel Adebayo, said Obi has what it takes to reposition Nigeria, especially with the statistics of what Nigeria’s problems are.
“I was listening to Peter Obi recently in one of his interviews with Channels TV. He was so on-point. He literally called the current crop of leaders clueless people. He literally knows all the statistics about many nations. I was so impressed. I hope Nigerians get it right this time around. I keep seeing the Obi movement. It is becoming a tsunami. The rave on social media about Obi candidature is unimaginable. That guy is making serious waves. I will keep praying for the country from afar. I hope the electorates will get it right this time.
“Nevertheless, the next government will have a great burden to deal with. Is it unemployment or insecurity? Nigeria is a messed up country because of the issue of unemployment. That’s what makes Canada different. Here, the jobs are many. You don’t need to know anyone to get a job here. Once you are sound, you will get a job here. Competency is key to succeeding here, unlike in Nigeria or the entire Africa.
“Talents are leaving Nigeria in droves. It’s so sad – brain-drain. I see most of the leaders’ kids here all the time. I run into them in banks. Their parents destroy Nigeria and send their kids over here for quality life. That’s the truth. I run into them a lot. We all gist and laugh, but deep down, I feel sad for the country. Nigeria is gradually drifting into anarchy. And what all the leaders are doing is campaigning for the next election. How do those leaders sleep at night, knowing full well that nothing is working? How do they go to bed and sleep? Anyway, a lot of them have sold their souls to the devil. All their kids are over here. I told you I see a lot of their kids here. They don’t care. To them, it is to your tent O Israel. That is the state of things over there in Nigeria. But I sincerely believe in Obi to get Nigeria working again,” he said.
‘Nigeria well-damaged’
Similarly, a legal practitioner, Musa Ahmed, said the country has been damaged beyond repairs and that it will take a lot of time to be re-built.
He said: “Nigeria is a diverse country and it is pathetic that it has been damaged by our politicians. The present government has failed us, like others before it. What exactly will APC campaign with…with death, hardship everywhere? Except the news online are all fake news, is there any notable achievement by the APC? They create poverty and illiterates all over the whole place.
“It baffles me that the politicians travel abroad, see what it means to live a quality life, yet come back to do rubbish. After losing in 2019, Atiku ran to Dubai and lived there for many years until it was time for the PDP primaries. That is what the leaders do. They have no good plans for the country, but are only interested in grabbing powers.
“The APC government has failed Nigerians, going by what it promised in 2014 electioneering. I recall how Buhari promised to tackle corruption, insecurity and revive the economy. But what is happening today? Corrupt people are being pardoned because of politics. Nyako and Dariye were tried and jailed by the court for corruption, as thoroughly investigated by the EFCC, so what signal is the government sending? As for insecurity, you can’t travel safely on our roads. It is either you are kidnapped or killed by jobless people. The economy has also collapsed. What is the exchange rate today? What about inflation?”
