In Peter Obi, Nigerians have found answers to age long socio-cultural and economic crisis facing our country. In Obi, Nigerians have seen and felt a sense of unity. In Obi issues have taken over sentiment. This is the hallmark of the Peter Obi factor in Nigerian politics.
By Nchee Nwabunnia
With the presidential election a few days ahead, the candidates of the leading political parties are on the full throttle in their campaigns. They are touring all nooks and crannies of the country selling their agenda to the people.
There has been a marked departure from the politics of the past that was underlined by casting aspersions and innuendos on political opponents. Nigerians now demand to know from each of the flag bearers why he should be chosen in place of the others. The candidates are taken to task on their pedigrees and antecedents at town hall meetings. Those that do not have much to showcase in terms of character, competence and capability, have been shunning such gatherings and when they appear, delegate questions to their subordinates.
But the Presidential candidate of Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi, has always made himself available, taking questions – serious and not -too -serious – from the audiences and proffering relevant answers. Even among critics, he is seen as a new face of Nigerian politics – an era characterised by profound engagements and issue-based politics.
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Win or lose, Obi has introduced merit, quality and prudence to the political lexicon of Nigeria. Prior to his venture into the presidential political contest, no one dared to challenge the two leading political parties – the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and remained significantly relevant in the contest. Doing so before now was seen as a waste of time and resources.
This was the reason many politicians saw Obi as a joke the moment he moved to the Labour Party to continue with his aspiration after PDP played the game they know how to play best against his South-East geo-political zone. To the PDP goons who truncated what would have been the enthronement of equity in our political space, they perceived Obi as a sore loser, not knowing that events have not taken a full turn.
When the masses of Nigeria started flocking behind Obi and every online poll going in his favour, it became a case of “the rejected stone becoming the head stone”. At present and with less campaign funds, Obi has become the frontrunner of the presidential contest, leaving other self-acclaimed frontrunners in awe.
Many lessons have been learnt and many more are yet to be learned. In Obi, Nigeria has moved from over dependence on major political party platform to dependence on positive personal qualities. In Obi, Nigerians have found answers to age long socio-cultural and economic crisis facing our country. In Obi, Nigerians have seen and felt a sense of unity. In Obi issues have taken over sentiment. This is the hallmark of the Obi factor in Nigerian politics.
Win or lose, Obi has brought great improvement, change and hope to Nigeria; An improvement that will force the hands of political parties to seek for and project integrity over corrupt moneybags; A situation that will not only pave way for more qualified Nigerian but also provide Nigeria with the much-needed good leadership; A situation that will encourage and consolidate power sharing.
The change we yearn is here and we cannot afford to lose it. The change mantra was mutilated by the APC regime going by the fact that it lacked all that was needed to effect change. They ended up being as bad as the PDP they came to change. As unrepentant as both parties can be, they have projected persons who do not have the energy, integrity and strength of character to pull Nigeria out of the dungeon which they both dragged us into in their cumulative 24 years in power.
For the first time in 24 years, an opportunity of a true change has come through Labour Party. Nigerians should key in and take their destiny in their own hands. Let’s encourage prudence and integrity, let’s vote for Obi and by doing so, encourage more men of integrity to see the need to venture in politics henceforth.
Nchee Nwabunnia, wrote from Lagos
