On Obi and his ‘folly’, by Olubunmi Ajai

I am glad the people of Anambra voted with logic and not let Peter Obi deceive them with his emotional rhetoric.

How on earth do you see a capable person like Mimiy, a woman who has served the community, and decide that it is Justina, a woman who has not, that should be the next representative for the people? Why? Because her husband died and you want to show that a ‘new Nigeria’ is one where people look out for others. You want to look out for her, Peter? Pay for her children’s education! Open a Trust Fund for her children’s education and welfare! Open a line of credit for her in your bank for her to do business or if she is not suited for business, help her get a job she is suited for!

Don’t come and play ludo with people’s lives by electing her into office.

How can you advocate for Justina over Mimiy? Like … HOW!!!???

I read Mimiy’s dad views on Obi and I totally agree with him. I don’t know why he is being slated. He asked Peter to bring a more eligible candidate. What is wrong in that? I also agree with him about Peter’s seeming lack of mental sagacity.

This Peter’s penchant for supporting ‘useless’ people was the same thing he did with Lagos State! Foisting a GRV who has NEVER held a leadership role in his life, NEVER won any elections in his life (go and verify. He lost ALL the elections he has ran for. Instead of learning his lessons and running again, he goes up to the next office to run. House of Reps – Senate – Governor), a man who as an Architect, cannot point to just ONE building that he has built, Obi says just because GRV’s mother comes from the same state as he, then, GRV is fit to run the most complex state in Nigeria.

Obi himself running for Presidency? What are his records as a governor? He plunged Anambra into deeper poverty than he met her. He used Anambra money to boost his personal businesses instead of building infrastructure for the state. In his time, doctors were on strike for 13 months. He did not provide free education for his people. Instead, he used ‘special centres’ of cheating to produce fake excellence in education. Anambra is the size of Alimosho Local Government in Lagos yet, a man who could not perform excellently in that small area, is what you people are pitting against the man who has EXCELLENTLY governed the most complex state in Nigeria, boosted her revenue in stratospheric measures, laid a foundation that is being followed by his mentees? How many mentees Obi get sef? Let us start from there. How many mentees does he have? How many of his commissioners are following him around? Does that not speak volumes about hm? Negative volumes in my opinion.

Obi – a man who in his 8 years as governor, did not allow for Local Government elections in his state for 7 years is whom you have whitewashed as a sepulchre and calling a democrat? The same Obi that refused for Labour Party to campaign in his state when he was the governor is who you are hailing as a democrat?

Obi that even hus children don’t believe a word he says (go and verify. He said it himself), a man that can’t be trusted by even his own children is who you want to trust?

See… I can understand Igbo people supporting Obi. Self preservation things. That is fine. I don’t begrudge them that. Though I find it absolutely abhorrent that they call Yorubas who support PBAT, bigots. Let us leave that and their toxicity aside. I understand them supporting Obi. The SE has not been in leadership since Ironsi (who, incidentally, forced us all into a unitary state by abolishing the regional system). I understand that, and God knows that if it was Soludo that was running against PBAT, I would have supported him over PBAT because I believe he is a bridge like PBAT. And I believe he is capable.

It is the non Igbos who are supporting Obi that I see as absolutely foolish people. You hate PBAT? Fine. That is your prerogative. But vote Sowore for God’s sakes! Vote Moghalu! Even sef, vote Atiku! At least, that one was part of a government that was successful.

But Obi? A man who takes disaster around with him like a black shirt? See what he has done to LP? Let us talk about how he is unable to manage conflict? Shall we talk about how he famously said he would NEVER leave APGA? A man who can’t stay in one place to sort out issues there? A man without chutzpah is who these non Igbos think is good enough for Nigeria?

You have somehow whitewashed him like a sepulchre – outside, beautiful and inside, full of rotten bones.

Look! There is NO successful person in the world who has not done dodgy things! All politicians have done dodgy things – your Obi included. Let us even leave the issue of Pandora Papers. How did Obi make his money so fast!? HOW!!!?? Obi is part of the system! He is part of the rot! You will leave a competent man of the system for an incompetent man of the system? How does that make sense? So many, many of you, in the millions hating on PBAT, are in Lagos, enjoying his legacy. You enjoyed his free education. Your children are enjoying his free education. You are enjoying a state that has the income of some African countries – made possible by PBAT, but you are intent on using your hat to cover your yansh because you are angry with your head

So, to the good people of Anambra who have voted competence over incompetence, I salut you. I congratulate you. Please, help us make GRV your next governor since you believe in him.

Congratulations, Mimiy Ikpeazu! Onwards and upwards to you. May this role be fulfilling for you and fruitful for your constituents.