Peter Obi
By Zik Gbemre
• Peter Obi is basically loved because of his track record as one that is prudent and stingy in the management of public resources, which is apparently aimed to work for the benefit of all…
• Nigerians and the entire country indeed, actually need the likes of Peter Obi to develop all the sectors of the country…
• In politics, people are free to make their own choices and express their opinions… Just as the Nigerian ‘Obedient youths’ are free to choose their leaders in 2023 general elections, so also do others have the freedom to choose theirs…
• Peter Obi is seen by the majority of Nigerian youths as one who does not waste public resources as others do in Governments spaces…
I have always had cause in time past, to write about the exemplary leadership in the corridors of government, and appreciated the good governance of Peter Obi as a former State Governor. In which I had emphasized the relevance of “doing the right things” by our political leaders and the importance of advancing on the exemplary dispensation and leadership ‘discipline’ of the said former Anambra State Governor, Mr. Peter Obi, who is now the Presidential candidate of the Labour Party for next year’s election. And why our political leaders should seriously look at the former governor again and emulate him in all ramifications. There is so much our present crop of political leaders, I believe, should learn from him.
However, as we draw close to the 2023 general elections, and as we also observe the growing movement and tidal wave of what we now know as the ‘Obident’ – which are basically the supporters of Peter Obi’s Presidential ambition; I also feel there is need for their Nigerian youths driving this ‘Obidients movement’ to apply caution, courtesy and respect for others and their political standpoints which may be different from theirs.
Today, Peter Obi is no longer seen as a tribal presidential candidate but as a ‘national presidential candidate’ of young Nigerians. He has been practically accepted by the majority of the young Nigerians. This is not to sing praises of Peter Obi, or rally support for him, but it is about explaining the ‘realities’ before us and why things are happening the way they are.
The truth is, the reasons for the growing ‘Obidients movements’ and the admiration of Peter Obi by the majority of Nigerian youths, are not farfetched. His track record and prudency as former Governor of Anambra state, is what is selling him.
There are several videos online of Peter obi, expressing how he demonstrated that corruption in Nigeria, is intractable because it subsists on the machinery of “daily governance.” And how he managed to overcome “the culture of waste” through his “personal prudence” as the then-governor of Anambra State. Obi has shown how State Governments could turn around the fortunes of their States with “reducing reckless spending.” And he has given ‘practical steps’ of how he achieved results in his State then.
When President Muhammadu Buhari talks about corruption, he gives the impression that we are fighting a Mephistophelean group that gets together to have Nigeria for lunch. But in reality, the truth is that “corruption is overlapped with daily governance”, most of the money that is either stolen or frittered across all levels of government leaves through rather “legitimate” means, notwithstanding the illegitimate means too. In other words, Nigeria is presently constituted to “leak resources”, and the country would probably not function without the skeleton of corruption that sustains its daily operations. It is this ‘culture of waste and leakage of our national wealth’, that Obi fought vigorously while in government, and today, the people of Anambra State are still reaping and enjoying the dividends that came out from that action.
These and many more, are part of the things that have made Nigerian youths to rally around the Obi’s Presidential ambition because they see him as one who does not waste public resources as others do in Governments spaces. He is miserly, as some will describe Peter Obi.
Actually, Nigerians desperately need prudent leaders that will reduce government to being unattractive. Peter Obi is not respected because he can share state money, but he is seen as one who will bring sanity to government. And as it is known, Peter Obi has no title, national or tribal honours attached to his name. Not even a chieftaincy title. He dresses simple and appears simple, and has educated Nigerians on the roles of governance at all levels.
He has openly condemned stealing of public resources like crude oil. He has asked for Nigerians to demand for accountability from their leaders. He has demonstrated that he was not in government in Anambra state to steal. He stopped unnecessary wastes of public funds.
Let us bear in mind that this is a former governor who, at the time he left office, said his administration has N75 billion in savings for the State, and the money included N25billion investments for the state. He noted that despite the state’s low revenue profile, his government completed over 801 kilometres of roads that gave access to all parts of the state and opened up rural areas. According to the former governor, through strategic planning, “prudent and transparent management of resources as well as reduction in the cost of governance, his administration achieved integrated and comprehensive development in all sectors without borrowing or owing anybody”. This is one feat most past and present State and Federal political leaders in government circles have never achieved while in and out of government.
Like every other human being, Obi cannot be said to be a perfect man. But he is indeed an upright politician who many see as one that has the capacity as President to clean the mess created by dubious politicians. The Nigerians that love Peter Obi today, are not loving him because of his wealth or what they hope to gain from him. But they basically love him because of his track records as one that is prudent and stingy in the management of public resources, which is apparently aimed to work for the benefit of all and sundry. This is unlike all other Nigerian ‘professional politicians.’
I think it is time for other politicians to learn from Peter Obi if at all they are interested in joining or remaining in active politics to govern their people at all levels. Is it not a shame that Nigeria with its vast oil and gas resources, still imports refined petroleum products from the countries we also sell crude oil, condensate and natural gas to? How can Nigeria remain a country that produces crude oil, condensate and natural gas and then export them raw, and in turn import the refined products as well as other materials produced from the raw petroleum resources? I for one believe that someone like Peter Obi, judging by his past records, will ensure fuels will no longer be imported from any damn country in my moral judgement if he becomes President.
How can Nigeria, with its vast wealth, remains a country whose economy is ‘generator’ driven? What a shame! Nigeria remains the highest importer of generators in the world, yet Nigeria is one of the largest producers of natural gas in the world. The same natural gas that is used to power electricity generation and distribution. We are where we are today as a nation because our past and present leaders in governments remained the highest wasters of public resources in the entire world.
Truth be told, Nigerians and the entire country indeed, actually need the likes of Peter Obi to develop all the sectors of the country. If all the sectors are activated by the prudency of Peter Obi, it will greatly reduce unemployment and the entire Nigerian economy will be better off.
In conclusion, Obi is admired by Nigerian youths not because he is the highest public spender, but he is actually admired and seen as a role model worthy to emulate in my moral opinion. Will Nigerian politicians learn from this? That it is good to be humble and simple and stop the wastes of public resources meant for the collective good of all.
We also advise the Nigerian youths of ‘Obidients’ to also stop in their raining abuses on other Presidential candidates, who are old enough to be their fathers. In politics, people are free to make their own choices and express their opinions as they see pleased. Just as the Nigerian ‘Obidient youths’ are free to choose their leaders in 2023 general elections, so also do others have the freedom to choose theirs. Let us all respect each other as we look forward to a free and fair and peaceful election come 2023.
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