Peter Obi; Nigeria’s Last Chance to Rebrand. By Williams Ukonu.
6 min read
For some time, I have dwelled so much on the 2023 election, especially as it affects Peter Obi. In each occasion I actually set out for a different discussion, but I get carried away with some comments I come across minutes before settling down to write.
Today is one of such occasions, and the intervening issue of the moment is some comments I read, which tried to dismiss Peter Obi`s chances under Labour Party – referring to his candidacy as “dead on arrival”. This their erroneous assumption is essentially premised on another flawed narrative of political structure.
For long, we have clamoured for independent candidacy in Nigeria, but little do we really understand what that really means. We have had good heads that can make great candidates in virtually every election in Nigeria, but hardly have any of the political parties “elected” any of these worthy vessels as their flag bearer.
In essence, what we lack in Nigeria has never been those who can get the job done, but the platform to do it. Rather than good candidates, our problem has been the deficiency of good political parties.
This is unlike the Western world where the right people for the job are hunted down, found and sponsored to run for political offices. Therefore, essentially, the political parties in the West hinge their success on the strength of their candidate. Therefore, they go all out to fetch the best and most credible choice.
They put their best foot forward in the pursuit of political power as they approach every election, both municipal, state or national.
The country in mind is the United States of America, where many Nigerians have tried to draw inference from as the debate rages on the chances of Mr. Peter Obi under the Labour Party in the upcoming presidential election.
In their argument those who think Labour Party diminishes Peter Obi`s chances in the election how made inference from the history of the US Green Party. The party is popularly referred to as the Green Party of the United States (GPUS)
The party has roots, which can be traced as far back as 1984, but it became a political party in 2001. However, more than two decades after its establishment, it is yet to wine a presidential election in Nigeria, or even come close to doing so.
They therefore, argue that the Green Party is an example of why Mr. Obi cannot win the presidential election under Labour Party in 2023. There might be some appeal in that argument, but there is no clear merit to it.
The reason for reaching this conclusion (disagreeing with their argument against Obi`s chances) is already explained in the beginning paragraphs above, but there is a bit more explanation below.
The United States is a highly civilized society of men. The political system is also far more developed than that of Nigeria. Political parties that sponsor candidates for offices in the United States all stand for something. They each have a very clear political ideology that they represent.
Consequently, the citizens have each taking positions in this political parties based on their convictions and understanding of these ideologies and the political objectives that these political parties espouse.
In this same sense, the parties approach each elections with well-defined manifestoes and issue based campaign. This is anchored by a credible candidate whose credibility is tested on these issues. He owns them and sells them to the electorates.
Therefore, what the people vote are not only the parties or the candidates but also the issues that matters to them. In the United States, these issues are basically in three fold – economy, immigration and freedom.
Each of these three issues have been dominated by the two big parties already. The Green Party stands on political ideologies, which aims to foster an ecologically sustainable society. While this is a growing movement in the Western world, it is yet to take deep root in the battle for power in the United States.
Consequently, most of the best brains who populate the two big parties find it an easy ride to overwhelm the junior partners in debates and political campaigns. For instance, it was not Republican political structures that made Donald Trump president in 2017.
In fact, Trumps actually hijacked these structures due to his appeal to the issues that matters most to Republican voters, which all bothers on immigration freedom and the economy.
Similarly, it was also not the Democratic party`s established structures that gave victory to Barack Obama in 2008. Obama knew the issues and he espoused them creditability well to the admiration of both the Democratic and many Republican voters.
In the Nigerian situation, things are entirely different. Campaigns are never based on issues, and the candidates are never chosen based on credibility, but on some other considerations, which the electorates cannot relate with.
For this reason, most Nigerians are less interested about going to the pools because the candidates sponsored for the elections by the parties do not appeal to them.
They are mostly reluctant to participate in the political process, unless for immediate pecuniary benefits, leading to the selling of their votes for a plate of porridge like the biblical Esau sold his birthright to Jacob.
In contrast, the rhythm of the nation in the present time suggests a clear paradigm shift. There are obvious signs of a political revolution. The choice that the two biggest political parties (PDP and APC) have made in the selection of their flag bearers, seem to aid rather than extinguish the flame of this coming revolution.
In Peter Obi and Labour Party, there is the combination of both the right candidate and the right message. Without any iota of doubt, Nigerians in their numbers are in tune with the credibility of Mr. Obi and his ability to deliver on the urgency of the moment, in rescuing Nigeria from the brink of perdition.
It is also without doubt that Obi has a message that appeals to so many across tribal and societal divides. The youths believe in him and for the first time, this section of Nigerians who represent more than 60% of the Nigerian population are taking action to participate in the coming presidential election, all because of Peter Obi.
They are not only being vociferous on the social media space, but are also walking their talk, registering and collecting their PVCs all across the nation. They are also sponsoring and encouraging others to do. This is not just happening in the South East, but also in the other regions. Peter Obi is not just an Igbo candidate, but also essentially a national movement of sort.
Therefore, the strength and benefits accruable from having the right message, the right people and the right timing, which the Green Party of the US lacks is not the case in the Labour party, which now wears the image and the appealing message of Mr. Peter Obi, which he has successfully preached and demonstrated in theory and practice over the years.
Right now, the iron is hot and set for a spike of the sledgehammer. Signs are endemic that in 2023, things will be different. Nigerians across divide have demanded for a Peter Obi presidency. For this reason, for the sake of Mr. Obi, many Nigerian voters are ready to rise beyond party and tribal lines to cast their votes for their choice candidate.
MY LAST WORDS.The threats we face in this country are existential. We cannot afford to relinquish this very important political process to the political parties as we have done in the past. Not anymore. The best time to stop Nigeria`s decay and trepidation on the path to perdition was in 2019. The next best chance is now.
It is our duty to rise up and raise our voices against evil. We do not all have to carry guns, but we can get our PVC and make sure we vote in the next election. We must reject everyone with connection or with any propensity to continue this evil foundation that Muhammadu Buhari has led in this country.
This is the time to stand with the only option to keep Nigeria as one progressive and prosperous country. In 2023, all patriotic Nigerians must speak with our votes and our voices must be heard, collectively and individually: On Peter Obi we stand.
Williams Ukonu Esq, lawyer and rights advocate, is a Clariform columnist and a commentator on national issues.
