That Peter Obi’s interview on CNN, By Kayode Oyedeji

My position about him remains the same. His addition is a big plus to the democratic process as Nigerians have more options to pick from.

The impression remains that he will be a frugal leader if elected. That is also a plus. A necessary but certainly not a sufficient reason to elect him.

He speaks a lot about our problems. He has been very good in highlighting our national challenges. Many of them are already well known and extensively discussed.

The real issue is how to address identified problems. Those problems won’t walk away with change of government. Candidates aspiring to be President must begin to talk about specific steps to address those problems.

Obi does not appeal as someone with great capacity for reforms. Not likely to be one that will create great institutions and undertake far-reaching reforms. His antecedents as Governor of Anambra easily suggests that he will build governance mainly around himself.

In Anambra, none of his former colleagues or supporters has been able to list institutions created and notable reforms initiated as Governor. He was a very decent leader, no doubt.

If elected, he may make a disciplined, frugal President. He may do well with wealth policing. He has not talked like one that will do well with wealth creation.

He is likely to save big, not “make big” One area of focus of anyone that will emerge as President next year will be to leaverage on improved infrastructure, financial services stability to create massive wealth for households.

There is still no convincing position on what he intends to do with critical reforms in the economy and the public sector as a whole. No clear position on security, especially on the menace of terrorists, bandits, kidnappers and non-state actors like IPOB. He would also need to unveil his plans on how to deliver, fund critical infrastructure.

Nigerians should interrogate Obi and other contenders further as campaign commences. His days in Anambra, his choice of successors and romance with the PDP do not really comform to the impressions of “breath of fresh air” being given by his aggresive supporters.

For now, it is still “buyers beware”.

-Oyedeji is an Economist and public affairs analyst