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SOUTH EAST AND 2023 PRESIDENCY: Of ‘kindergarten’ President and analogous political permutations

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By  Chuks Collins, Abuja
When Pastor Paul Osaromen dropped an usual prophetic message to the nation about four years ago in 2019 -that the Igbos of Nigeria should prepare to take over the rein of leadership of Nigeria after President Muhammadu Buhari, not many were too surprised.
Yes, because any discerning mind simply know that it was about time. About time to give these dogged never-say-die sons of the East opportunity to contribute their committed quota to the growth of this nation, Nigeria.
About time to get those who have practically and truly demonstrated their implicit belief in this nation by turning every hamlet of Nigeria into home and dwelling place, to lead the way. To lead the way, nurture our economy back to life again and encourage the rest part of Nigeria do same.
But in addition to the prophecy, Pastor Osaromen then shocked the wits off his congregation when he added that, the only major problem with an Igbo man mounting the saddle in Aso Rock for Nigeria to rise again would be his brethren, “the Igbo people”, to use his exact words.
In plain language, that it would be the Igbo sons and daughters that would block, blackmail, hinder and sabotage the chosen one!
That was four clear years ago. And today, from being a former running-mate to Alh Atiku Abubakar, Mr Peter Obi, an Igbo man has moved from the shadows to become the man to beat in the fast approaching February 25,2023 presidential election. His rise and popularity was actually meteoric. No one really saw it coming.
His initial challenges came from his party men and women, who expected him to fork out between ten and twenty-five thousand dollars, or even more, for each of the delegates to the party’s Presidential Convention to elect the presidential flagbearer.
But the truth is that when the hand of God Almighty is involved, no one would hinder or stop His anointed. Obi read the mood accurately and instantly took a dignified walk, leaving behind all the political chicanery.
He didn’t just take a walk, he instantly resigned from the party having found out that the leadership has been taken over by people with insincere tongues/lifestyles. People who draw up laws and Constitution they won’t adhere to. And as the good book had charged us, -to run away fast from such persons, Obi ran. And even took away the heart and soul of the party and the people with him. And the G-5 Governors on our minds.
From what has been going on since his departure many months ago, he left behind a cacophonous bunch of irreconcilable persons, most of who believed that money is everything. People who apparently believed that the old ‘system’ would last forever and that the people would equally continue to be hoodwinked ad infinitum.
However for those who know Obi well, he’s someone who will never disobey God Almighty! So, he simply ran away from the party knowing full well that inconsistency had become the hallmark of her leadership. It means that no one knows what other chicanery they would come up with next.
He then landed in the ‘barely known’ Labour Party(LP), as described by his traducers.
Almost immediately, the characters he left behind in PDP, with their visible uncharted course instantly raised alarm, claiming that Obi’s Labour Party was unknown; and that he has no ‘structure’. Whatever that means.
Doesn’t it then surprise the world that barely ninety days after all these, Obi and his tornado-like Obidient Movement powered by the teeming Nigerian youths has kept both Atiku of the PDP and Alhaji Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) sleepless, restless and disconsolate, day-in, day-out! It has remained same for all their parties’ other candidates and political minions nationwide.
Consequently, anything any of these opposition candidates could hold on to shoot Obi or any of his LP party’s candidates down, even if it’s mere blanks, have not been spared.

Senator Uche Ekwunife and Anambra State Governor, Charles Soludo

Why not, when the nations everyday people, the youth, the mothers, their fathers, artisans, professionals and even the classless have taken over the whole Nigerian streets, the streams, the shops, the markets, the mosques, the churches, the schools, the salons, the boutiques, the bars and restaurants to identify with Obi and the message of hope that he represents as well as his recovery plans for Nigeria. This was while his opponents continued to embarrass the nation locally and overseas with hitherto unknown and unheard sleazy deals and outlandish roguery they had made of themselves and the economic life of Nigeria and even some other nations like Singapore too. They were so audacious and bold at the accusations and counter-accusations that observers started wondering whether that was their agenda to use to pull Nigeria from the debilitating economic doldrums the nation has found itself.

Yet they brook no shame at all still walking the streets. Yet some Nigerians still follow and identify with them, apparently because of the crumbs they pick from under the tables of these wicked masters and lords.
As the seeming helpless supporters trudge on with these cash lords no one or opportunity was then spared. Not even the LP’s senatorial candidate for Anambra Central, Chief Victor Umeh. He was dragged to court, and even allegedly sponsored other persons to drag him about in other Courts too.
Most analysts believe that all these were ultimately targeted at Peter Obi! More like the maxim of ‘delinda eh Cathego'(Carthage must be destroyed), of the mediaeval Roman Cathagenian wars era.
Obi must be destroyed. Completely destroyed! All in the name of politics. Really? What about the age long saying that blood is thicker than water.
Furthermore, Obi was consequently, described in many demeaning adjectives, tones and languages, all in the name of dirty politics and selfish-driven permutations. Many have described some of these permutations as analog, selfish, vain, shameful and awful.
Else, how could men, women, youths and electorate from all profession, tribes, tongue, social, economic, political all and religious persuasion clamour for Peter Obi as the President the nation needs at this particular time, then his own Igbo brothers like Governor Chukwuma Soludo and Senator Uche Ekwunife lead the pack to drag him about and down. It’s awful! It’s reprehensible! It’s condemnable! Especially when viewed from the filial consideration that the all come from same Anambra state.
Its even more shocking to note that both Soludo and Ekwunife are hitherto beneficiaries of mass appeal from same political territory with Obi in Anambra state.
Correct or not, Soludo and Ekwunife had variously remained in the nation’s political terrain since the return of democracy in Nigeria, mid 1998. So is it not time both take a sabbatical?
Today, barely 200 hundred days in the saddle as the governor of one of the richest and critical State in Nigeria, Soludo is already scheming on how to become the only known Nigerian President of Igbo extraction. While Ekwunife want to lift the National Assembly’s sit-tight championship.
Unfortunately, both officers had been enjoying chummy relationship with the citizens of Anambra state until now. It’s no longer so, and would likely never be so again.
If it were in the South West, their career, whatever it used to be, would have instantly simply gone down the political drain. They are free to inquire from the Jakandes and the Babatopes! Because once these two names consciously or subconsciously put themselves on the wrong side of the South West political configuration, it became their eternal nonc dimitis till date.
While Soludo has not done three-quarter distance of his maiden term of four years, he has already truncated his governorship history. It’s almost certain he would join the inglorious club of one-term governors. Some political watchers believed it would not be a bad idea if only to teach others a lesson or two on how not to be a traducer to the one God has chosen.
Ekwunife, was accused of openly working to undermine Peter Obi, saying that Nigeria do not need a kindergarten President! Whaaaat? If it’s true, then that would be a brand new case study in ingratitude.
Surprisingly if there’s any politician closely related to Obi, that person is Ekwunife (Iyom, Ada Igboukwu) and Victor Umeh. They all hail from same genealogical and political origin. While Obi comes from Agulu, Umeh comes from Aguluzoigbo and Ekwunife comes from Igboukwu. Their ancestors were brothers. And the trio have remained very close to each other, until political subterfuge now tore them apart. Such that Ekwunife would be alleged to publicly refer to Obi as a kindergarten president! Tufia kwa!
So, apparently in her calculation nothing would be held sacred or spared to favour Atiku and the PDP, not even blood that was known to be always thicker than water. This is sad. And no one from any other zone in Nigeria would do it. But South East.
It’s even disturbingly scandalous to realise that Ekwunife remain a sure bet among the few greatest beneficiaries in a Peter Obi presidency. Why is she then doing this? Was it because they sold a hilarious dummy to some inarticulate people of the zone that ‘Atiku remains the fastest route to an Igbo President’, or that he would do only one term?
The idea is shamefully childish, ridiculous, funny and baseless, and anyone who believes such political nonsense would simply believe anything. What about the constitutionally stipulated zoning issue that was copiously enshrined in the PDP constitution. Yet, Atiku muscled the party into truncating it. He bought his way through and ended up making the party leaders look simply like guns for hire any day.
That unfortunate decision clearly dealt heavy blow to heir individual and corporate image and perception, because of one man, Atiku. It made them look as politically unreliable characters who could waver and turn their laws up-side-down any day, any moment. People who have no regards or respect to their words, laws or agreement. Just because of one man, Atiku.
If he could thrash the party’s constitution so arbitrarily to satisfy his personal ambition, before assuming executive powers unchallenged, who in his/her right senses would believe he wont do worse things as an executive president with executive powers?
And this is the same man who as a Vice President forced a sitting President down on his knees in tears to support his reelection!
President Buhari, from the North, according to a generally known understanding took over from a Southern Nigerian president and did eight years that wrecked all the aspects of Nigeria’s political, economic, social, religious balance/cohesion unperturbed. Instead of all men of goodwill from the North to stay clear and allow the South East as the only zone yet to have a shot, Atiku and some few others in apparent show of arrogant display of political rascality derided the arrangement and all those who adhere to its upkeep, by jumping into the presidential election arena, including Atiku. It shows and means that he cares less about rules and feelings of anyone, not even the whole nation, but himself.
Anyone trying to rationalize the right of the South East, particularly the face of the zone in the coming February 25, 2023 presidential election, Mr Peter Obi, is certainly an enemy.
Not just enemy to Obi, but to all Nigerians of good conscience. They have become enemies to our welfare, our health/educational, economic/social recovery plans that he represents.
And the only way to show our anger is through our votes. Let’s turn our back on all those who have made themselves our enemies.
Let all Nigerians vote massively for Peter Obi for the future of Nigeria and coming generations as anything else may signify an end to our dear nation.
Atiku was the second in command for 8 full years, and only helped himself, family and friends. So the question is, why didn’t he use that opportunity to unleash the eldorado he and his foot-soldiers like Soludo and Ekwunife have been mouthing about now.
Let them name one single project he facilitated in the entire South East zone as a mark of his fair mindedness. Little wonder Soludo was counselled by the President of the Imo General Assembly in Nnewi, Chief Chinedu Igwe “not to be distracted by promises by Abuja to make him president after his tenure as governor…”
But in his seeming feeble attempt to defend his administration’s pulling down of Labour Party’s and Obi’s campaign billboards in Anambra, Soludo accused Obi of doing similar things too earlier while he superintended the state as governor years back.
Because many others before him were similarly given such fake and unfulfilled promises like that.
The masses, youths and the downtrodden of this nation, opinion polls and even prophecies have consistently named Obi as the next and incoming president of Nigeria. Therefore any direct or indirect attacks on him will only mean attacking God Almighty who sent him. Hence we can simply wish Gov Soludo and Sen Ekwunife and other enemies within well in their enterprise.
Only time will tell.

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2027: ‘Peter Obi must not die’ — Igbo Group warns of catastrophic consequences

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Peter Obi, Presidential candidate of NDC
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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.

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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.

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I might not be alive to contest in 2027 – Peter Obi raises alarm over threats to his life

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Peter Obi not arrested by DSS – Aide
Peter Obi, NDC Presidential candidate
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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.

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“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.

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Voters reward performance as APC sweeps Ekiti, dominates Bye-Elections nationwide — Yilwatda

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Professor Nentawe Yilwatda
Professor Nentawe Yilwatda
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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.”

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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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