2023: Inadvisability Of Throwing Away Obi’s Chances Of Becoming Nigerian President Come February 25 -By Isaac Asabor

In 1987, after the sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, popularly called Awo, transited to glory, the late Ikemba of Nnewi and erstwhile leader of the ill-fated Republic of Biafra, Chief Emeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, described Chief Jeremiah Obafemi Awolowo as “the best president Nigeria never had”. Without sounding exaggerative, such an assessment meant a lot, particularly as it came from a highly intelligent personality like Ojukwu who had also followed the path of all men by his transition to the great beyond. In fact, most available records show that Ojukwu held Awo in very high esteem.

However, it is not an exaggeration to say that the quotable quote credited to Ojukwu has from one political dispensation to another been finding expression as Nigerians have continued to witness partisan politics impede the emergence of credible and patriotic leaders at the corridors of power.

In his book, “Yoruba Elites and Ethnic Politics in Nigeria: Wale Adebanwi investigates the dynamics and challenges of ethnicity and elite politics in Nigeria, and therein talked about how Awo was denied the opportunity of becoming Nigerian president and threw more insights into the outpouring of eulogies that trailed his death.

He wrote, “While the nation was generally believed to have been gripped with grief, the political elite were gripped by the passion to gain maximally from the death and burial of Awo. Chief Emeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu, an Igbo and the leader of the secessionist Biafra Republic, who had opposed Awo in the Second Republic, was to make, perhaps, the most widely cited statement on the man after his death. Ojukwu said that Awo was ‘The best president Nigeria never had’, adding that, with his death, ‘Nigeria will never be [the] same again’ (Daily Times, 11 May 1987). The federal military government, in its reaction to Awo’s passing, described him as ‘one of the greatest Nigerians who in his lifetime made enormous contributions to the development of our nation’, and changed the name of the University of Ife, one of Nigeria’s best universities, to Obáfémi Awólówò University (New Nigerian, 11 May 1987, New Nigerian, 13 May 1987, 1). The New Nigerian, a newspaper, which, though owned by the federal government, was the voice of the (Hausa-Fulani) ruling elite regarded by many Yoruba as the most powerful ‘stumbling block’ to Awo’s ambition, in an editorial that was essentially a eulogy (African Guardian, 21 May 1987, 15), said Awo’s accomplishments ‘dwarf the accomplishments of virtually all his peers’. The paper added that, despite his sterling qualities, Awo was denied the presidency which ‘would have been his for the asking owing to his perhaps erroneous perception as a tribalist’ (New Nigerian, 11 May 1987).”

Without a doubt, the foregoing aptly captures the political situation in Nigeria where good leaders were good leaders are denied the opportunity to bring their leadership skills and patriotic zeal to bear toward the development of the country and are paradoxically showered with praises upon their mortal exit.

In a similar vein, there is no denying the fact that Nigerians have been denied the opportunity of benefiting from the leadership qualities and patriotic fervor of incumbent Nigerian vice president, Prof. Yemi Osinbanjo, supposing he was given the presidential ticket of the All Progressives Congress (APC). Rather, the ticket was given to Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the party’s primary election, last year. Without a doubt, Osinbajo would have been the candidate to beat in the upcoming election if he were to be the one that is presently flying the party’s flag.

In his view on Osinbajo’s leadership prowess, Akin Irede, in an article titled “Nigeria 2023: Does Tinubu’s Presidential declaration signal the end for Osinbajo?”, wrote, “Unlike previous deputies that had been given the derogatory nickname ‘spare tyre’, Osinbajo served as President of Nigeria for 171 non-consecutive days in 2017 and 2018 during Buhari’s first term, bearing full powers and privileges of the President such that he was able to unilaterally sack the head of Nigeria’s secret police, Musa Daura; send proposals to the National Assembly, sign the 2017 budget, and introduce some economic reforms.
Unlike Buhari who had been nicknamed, ‘baba go slow’ because of his slow approach to governance, Osinbajo took quick and decisive decisions. A report in the BBC titled, ‘Yemi Osinbajo – why Nigeria’s favorite leader won’t become president, yet’ released on 19 August 2018, explained how Nigerians were yearning for Osinbajo to become President and how this was shared across social media platforms by his supporters.

Fearful of his soaring popularity, several interests – including a powerful cabal in the Presidency – saw to it that Osinbajo was relegated in Buhari’s second tenure, but this did not stop many from campaigning for him.”

Unfortunately, rather than give Osinbajo the chance to become Nigerian president, he has been blocked from being that by partisan politicians that decide who gets what, and when, as far as sharing the proverbial “National Cake” is concerned.

Be that as it may, Nigerians, no doubt, have a very promising and good presidential candidate in Mr. Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), yet he is been attacked by his own “brothers”, political opponents, and equally been attacked on the basis of his tribe and religion.

Without sounding partisan in this context, there is no denying the fact that he is the best candidate among the 18 other candidates cleared to contest the upcoming presidential election by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) come February 25, 2023. To me, he is the most qualified to become the next president of Nigeria and Nigerians should not in any way miss the opportunity of making him become our president.

His chances of becoming Nigeria’s president in the next few weeks should not be thrown away. The reason for the foregoing view cannot be farfetched as Nigeria cannot afford to have another president that Nigeria never had as he has what it takes to move the country to the Promised Land in 2023.