
Politics
Edeoga and The Price of Betrayal
By Larry Orji
“He who sells his brother, even the buyer will never trust him” – Igbo proverb
I have watched the trending video where the supposed governorship candidate of the Labour Party in Enugu, Hon. Chijioke Edeoga, practically humiliated himself and embarrassed his few supporters in a desperate bid to have a photo opportunity with the Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi.
Whatever you say about Peter Obi, he knows how to market himself to the public. Even on a normal day, Obi will never avoid/ignore even a common Nigerian, who seeks his attention or photo opportunity with him, let alone a governorship candidate of his party and in an election season when our politicians become so humble. Haven’t we seen many of them become baby-sitters in the course of campaigns? Haven’t we seen Rotimi Amechi plait a lady’s hair during campaign? Didn’t we see Mrs. Aisha Buhari help a roadside trader to fry akara during the 2015 campaigns? Haven’t we seen Adams Oshiomole help a woman to roast corn by the roadside or many of our politicians like Rochas Okorocha munch corn in the streets?
So, why would it take Edeoga such extreme desperation as touting of himself as “candidate, candidate, candidate” like an Oshodi conductor as well as pushing his way and forcing himself into Obi’s picture with some other gentlemen to gain a photo opportunity with the presidential candidate of his party? My mind tells me a few things.

There is this popular parable in the West about a tender-hearted woman, who rescued a poor, half-frozen snake from near death in the winter cold. It has been made into poems/songs in the U.S and even Donald Trump used it in one of his speeches as President, warning Americans to beware who they take into their country.
“Take me in, oh tender woman,” the snake cries out. “Take me in, for heaven’s sake.” So, the kind-hearted woman takes the snake into her own home, warms it by the fire and feeds it milk and honey: “If I hadn’t brought you in, by now you might have died”, the tender-hearted woman says.
But instead of being faithful and grateful, the snake gives her a vicious bite. “I saved you,” cries the heartbroken woman. “And you’ve bitten me, but why? You know your bite is poisonous, and now I’m going to die.” “Oh shut up, silly woman,” says the reptile with a grin. “You knew damn well I was a snake before you took me in.”
When Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi sits to reflect on life, his tenure as governor and the politics of the emergence of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in Enugu, he will always be grateful to God that he resisted the pressures, cajoling, and sentiments from some selfish Enugu North Senatorial Zone elements to have him endorse his maternal relation, Chijioke Edeoga, as his successor. It would have not only upended the values of equity and justice he preaches, but also have been the worst mistake of his life. Given the viciousness with which Edeoga, his hatchet writers and newfound political allies have attacked, maligned and made mockery of him all over the social media, it is obvious that a Governor Chijioke Edeoga would have been Ugwuanyi’s nemesis. He would have planted poisonous venoms in and ruined all Ugwuanyi has ever attained politically.
Ugwuanyi and Edeoga’s mothers are related by blood in Obollo-Eke in the present day Udenu Local Government Area. But while Ugwuanyi’s mother was married to Orba, also in present day Udenu LGA, Edeoga’s mother was married out to Eha-Amufu in Isi-Uzo. All three towns used to be part of Isi-Uzo LGA before the creation of Udenu LGA. They were all in old Nsukka Zone, the reason Edeoga, who should have naturally picked his running mate from Nsukka Zone went to Enugu West instead, as he has never pretended about the fact that he is running on behalf of Nsukka Zone, not Enugu East Zone where he currently belongs to, geopolitically.
Virtually every Igbo person will admit that maternal relations stick closer than paternal cousins. It was therefore, only natural that Ugwuanyi took Edeoga in. At some point, Edeoga lived in Ugwuanyi’s home until he got married to the daughter of the late Justice A.B.N Obayi and Chief Mrs. Grace Obayi of the Chief J.U Nwodo dynasty. His marriage to Nkechi Obayi, niece of the Nwodos literally opened doors of political fortunes to him. Edeoga became Council Chairman of Isi-Uzo LGA in 1997 and a Member of the House of Representatives between 1999 and 2003.
Fast-forward to 2015, Ugwuanyi appointed Edeoga the Commissioner for Local Government Matters during his first tenure, and reappointed him as Commissioner for Environment in his second term. Edeoga was not just part of the Ugwuanyi administration, but an insider.
However, a greedy power monger that he is, Edeoga sought to be endorsed as Ugwuanyi’s successor. He threw weight about and presented himself as the governor-in-waiting. The uninitiated kowtowed. He ran the most vicious campaign, using hatchet writers to malign everything and everybody, low or small, that he believed stood between him and the Lion Building.
For instance, he was the one, who started selling the fake story that Dr. Peter Mbah stole Enugu money (as former Chief of Staff and later Commissioner of Finance) to build Pinnacle Oil and Gas Ltd; that Mbah was charged to court by the EFCC and negotiated a plea bargain, etc.
Unfortunately for him, Ugwuanyi knew that history won’t be kind to him if he attempts to impose Edeoga as his successor, given their family ties maternal relationship and the affinity of Isi-Uzo and Udenu.
Having benefitted so much from Ugwuanyi; having served under Ugwuanyi as his political leader; and having freely signed pacts along with other PDP governorship aspirants of Enugu East zone extraction to respect Ugwuanyi and party’s choice and support any among about 16 of them he eventually endorsed as his successor, the reasonable and honourable thing to have done was to join hands to deliver Dr. Peter Mbah as the next governor.
But what have we seen since Edeoga lost the governorship ticket? He has gone haywire. Instead of running an issues-based campaign, Edeoga has admitted before Enugu NBA that he has no manifesto. So, he busies himself disparaging and deprecating Ugwuanyi, Mbah, Senator Chimaroke Nnamani, etc.
If Edeoga is reasonable, he should have known that every stone he casts at Ugwuanyi returns to him in double folds, for if Ugwuanyi is such a despicable character and administrator, as he and his hatchet writers want us to believe, why did he spend a whooping seven years in his government? Why didn’t he resign?
Again, if Dr. Mbah is what Edeoga wants us to believe, why didn’t he include a proviso in the aforementioned MoU, which he signed that he would support anyone else that emerged, except Mbah?
“Ingratitude”, writes William George Jordan, “is crime more despicable than revenge, which is only returning evil for evil, while ingratitude returns evil for good”. By waging war against his benefactor, Ugwuanyi; by porting to the Labour Party despite the pact with other Enugu East Zone aspirants to stick together; by jumping the ship after giving Mbah his words and issuing a personally signed statement declaring support for Mbah a few days after the PDP primary, Edeoga announced to the world in unmistakable terms that just like that treacherous snake that bit the tender-hearted lady that took it in from the freezing winter, wrapped it up all cozy in a coverture of silk, laid it up by the fireside, and fed it with some honey and milk, he is a betrayer of trust.
As earlier stated, Obi is a good marketer. It therefore follows that he knows a bad market when he sees one. So, don’t blame him for avoiding Edeoga at that Enugu event. After all, do our elders not say that he who sells his brother, even the buyer will never trust him? Betrayal comes at a price and Edeoga is just beginning to pay
• Larry Orji writes from Ngwo, Enugu State
News
2027: ‘Peter Obi must not die’ — Igbo Group warns of catastrophic consequences
Njiko Igbo Forum, an affiliate of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has issued a stern warning ahead of the 2027 general elections, cautioning that it will be catastrophic should anything happen to Mr Peter Obi.
It could be recalled that Obi, on Wednesday, raised the alarm that his life was under threat.
The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, raised fears that he may not be alive in 2027 to be part of the election.
However, in a statement issued on Thursday, Rev Dr Okechukwu Christopher Obioha, Leader, Njiko Igbo Forum Nigeria, he warned that should anything happen to Obi or he was not in the ballot, the reaction and result would be very catastrophic.
Obioha said the caution was part of the decision taken during an emergency meeting held today, Thursday, in Enugu.

The Forum said, “That we have seen the viral video made by His Excellency, Mr Peter Gregory Obi, speaking on a number of issues, he expressed serious concern that his life is in danger.
“For him to have gone to the extent of saying he might not be alive before the 16th of January 2027, speaks volumes both in our polity and in the country at large.
“We have seen him in the past, spoke about the federal government trying to frustrate and targeting him not to be in the ballot.
“We have also observed over a period of time that the presidency or the federal government led by President Tinubu does not want Peter Obi to be in the ballot.”
While drawing the attention of the Presidency, Nigeria and the world to those allegations, Njiko Igbo Forum declared that “if anything happens to Mr Peter Gregory Obi or finally his name is not in the ballot for the 16th January, 2026 presidential election, the reaction and result will be very catastrophic and may adversely affect the continued unity in diversity of this country Nigeria.”
It further stated that the Igbo had been very quiet, pushed to the wall, segregated against, marked out everywhere, chased about and even tried to take their possessions.
Njiko Igbo Forum cautioned that keeping quiet does not mean the Igbo are cowards.
It said the ruling government should not forget that for any democracy to thrive, there must be a viral opposition in the polity.
“There is no reason, for what we have seen in the process or polity in trailing Peter Obi and going to an extent of chasing him through all the political parties and now wanting to kill him.
“This outcry by Mr Peter Gregory Obi, must not be taken lightly and request as a matter of urgent National importance, that an urgent investigation panel be constituted to verify Mr Peter Obi’s allegations.
“We are strongly stating again that, nothing should happen to Mr Peter Gregory Obi.
“Yes, Chief Awolowo said, before Nigeria he was of the Yoruba Nation. The same way we are saying before Peter Obi is of Nigeria, he is of the Igbo.
“Mr Peter Gregory Obi will live and become the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in 2027,” it declared.
News
I might not be alive to contest in 2027 – Peter Obi raises alarm over threats to his life
Presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, Mr Peter Obi, has cried out over alleged threat to his life.
Obi, who is a major contender ahead of the 2027 presidential election said he might not be alive to participate in the election.
According to him, there is obvious attack on everything that had to do with him, including his life.
The former Anambra state governor made the allegation during a podcast with Chude Jideonwo.
“The way they are going now I might not be alive, I’m telling you every single thing I do for a living this government is frustrating it deliberately so.

“Everything, so there’s even a possibility if they have opportunity I will not be alive. I get frustrations every day because you do things that may think it may be normal it is not normal they won’t come directly and say oh we are doing this but you could see their hand in eventually everything.
“The government is attacking everybody, I am being attacked personally even to provide me with things I am entitled to, not at all,” he said.
He recalled how his vehicle was clamped down at the airport while he was right there, whereas other vehicles lined up on the same spot were untouched.
Obi further that stated that even close associates were beginning to avoid him over fear of government clampdown.
He disclosed that friends now send him invitations for occasions but tell him not to bother attending.
Politics
Voters reward performance as APC sweeps Ekiti, dominates Bye-Elections nationwide — Yilwatda

The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, has described the resounding victory of Governor Biodun Oyebanji in the Ekiti State Governorship Election and the party’s impressive performance in the recent bye-elections across the country as a clear vote of confidence in the APC, the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and the ongoing reforms being implemented to reposition Nigeria for sustainable growth and prosperity.
Prof. Yilwatda stated that the outcome of the elections demonstrates that Nigerians are able to distinguish between temporary economic challenges associated with reforms and the long-term benefits of responsible governance, economic restructuring, infrastructure development and institutional renewal being championed by the APC at both federal and state levels.
According to the National Chairman:
“The overwhelming victory recorded by our great party in Ekiti State and our remarkable success in the bye-elections across the country represent a powerful endorsement of the APC’s governance philosophy. These results affirm that Nigerians appreciate leadership that prioritises development, accountability, stability and the welfare of the people.”
“The people of Ekiti State have once again demonstrated that performance remains the most potent campaign message in democratic politics. Governor Biodun Oyebanji’s resounding re-election is a reward for visionary leadership, inclusive governance, prudent management of resources and visible developmental achievements across the state.”

Governor Oyebanji of the APC was declared winner of the Ekiti Governorship Election after securing a commanding victory across the state, reaffirming the confidence of the electorate in his administration and the APC’s developmental agenda. The party also recorded significant victories in five of the six bye-elections conducted across various states of the federation.
Prof. Yilwatda, in a statement signed by his Special Adviser on Media and Information Strategy, Abimbola Tooki, noted that the Ekiti result has further strengthened the APC’s narrative that performance-based governance remains electorally rewarding, even amid difficult economic transitions.
“The Ekiti election has become a national reference point. It confirms that when governments deliver tangible results in infrastructure, education, healthcare, agriculture, youth empowerment, security and social development, citizens respond with renewed trust and overwhelming electoral support.”
“This victory sends a clear message that governance, not propaganda, remains the most effective route to political legitimacy. The people of Ekiti have spoken loudly and clearly in support of continuity, stability and progress.”
The APC National Chairman described Ekiti State under Governor Oyebanji as one of the most compelling governance success stories in contemporary Nigeria, citing sustained investments in road infrastructure, rural development, human capital advancement, healthcare delivery, agricultural productivity, workers’ welfare and ease of doing business.
He said the administration has successfully built broad-based political consensus while maintaining a strong focus on development outcomes, thereby creating an environment of stability and accelerated progress.
“Ekiti today stands as a shining example of how APC governments are translating public trust into measurable development outcomes. The state’s progress under Governor Oyebanji provides a practical demonstration of our party’s commitment to people-centred governance.”
Prof. Yilwatda further stated that the election outcomes should be viewed within the broader national context of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s reform agenda, which is gradually laying the foundation for a more resilient, productive and globally competitive Nigerian economy.
“Despite inheriting deep structural challenges, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has demonstrated courage and vision in implementing reforms that are necessary for Nigeria’s long-term prosperity. The confidence reposed in our party by voters across the country indicates growing public understanding and appreciation of these reforms and their future benefits.”
It
“These victories are therefore not only electoral successes; they are validations of a governing philosophy anchored on bold leadership, responsible decision-making and sustainable development.”
The National Chairman congratulated President Tinubu, Governor Biodun Oyebanji, APC leaders and members in Ekiti State and across the federation, as well as all candidates who emerged victorious in the bye-elections.
He also commended the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), security agencies and the people of Ekiti State for the peaceful conduct of the election.
Prof. Yilwatda assured Nigerians that the APC would remain focused on delivering good governance at all levels and deepening democratic dividends for citizens across the country.
“Our message to Nigerians is simple: we have heard your voices, we appreciate your confidence and we shall continue to justify the trust you have placed in our party through impactful governance, economic renewal and inclusive national development.”
“The APC remains committed to building a stronger, more prosperous and more united Nigeria. The victories recorded in Ekiti and the bye-elections reinforce our resolve to work even harder in service to the Nigerian people.”
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