Peter Obi’s Improbable Victory In Nigeria’s 2023 Presidential Election -By Rees Chikwendu

“Peter Obi can’t be president. He is too stingy” – Rev. Fr. Ejike Mbaka

“Peter Obi cannot win 2023 presidency” – Ned Nwoko

“Peter Obi cannot win 2023” – Babangida Aliyu

Those with these opinions, out of their self-belief, perception, or self-confidence, have written off Peter Obi as someone without the political structures, money, and “what it takes” to win the 2023 presidential election, they scorn.

At the moment, it seems also that Mr. Obi has no backing from the establishment and has no stolen dollars, like others, to buy votes at the poll during the election. However, the assumption that Peter Obi has no establishment backing is too early because, in the coming months, new realignments will emerge and change everything about the 2023 presidential election and usher in a new form of energy and political direction.

Apart from the Nigerian youths – who are the early adopters of Mr. Obi’s political evangelism of ‘consumption to production,’ soon, other heavyweights of Nigeria’s politics, with deep pockets too, will realign to support Obi’s political movement. Negotiations are ongoing.

Failure to realize that, so far, Obi has formed healthy relationships with young Nigerians who desperately desire change – away from the existing political structures of the ruling party and the main opposition party in the last (almost) 8-years, is an opportunity.

The advantage Obi has over all the other candidates are that: he has been consistent with sound economic policies that would tilt Nigeria toward development. His conception of political power does not reek of desperation. His vision and what he is promising are realistic. He is not being vague, saying everything and nothing. Although not a saint, he has demonstrated political integrity in a country of lunatic politicians.

By all expectations and permutations of many Nigerian conventional politicians, Obi cannot win the 2023 presidential elections. This way of thinking makes Peter Obi the underdog in the presidential election. Perhaps, their deep pockets, usual vote-buying, ballot-snatching, and rigging are still giving them the strength and confidence because they are stuck in their mindsets of the old ways and strategies of winning elections. It will become their weakness, too, because they have not realized that a new wind is blowing, and Obi has won the hearts of many young and old across ethnic and religious divides.

Being the underdog makes you work harder than those with self-confidence in their perceived strength. So far, if you have noticed, Peter Obi is the only candidate who has been busy touring the country (including foreign countries), formulating and shaping his policies, and educating and enlightening his potential electorates. He has no it is my turn to rule or the born-to-rule mentality. These mindsets of the ruling party and the main opposition party are weaknesses that create opportunities for the underdog. Peter Obi is busy grinding while they are waiting to steal and rig themselves into power.

Peter Obi has introduced the uncommon practice in Nigeria’s political landscape. That is, politics that empowers the electorates, and they, in turn, will empower the leader. He is brilliantly demonstrating a new brand of politics of sound policies, without bitterness but with superior arguments. Today, more than ever, the growing number of voters feel clear for the first time that this election will make a difference for them. The usual widespread voters’ apathy has significantly reduced. That is Obi’s effect.

The old politicians are not seeing that Peter Obi is changing the terms and conditions of the social contract they should have with the people. They think Nigeria’s 2023 election battle will be in the usual familiar combat style; that is why they mock every time “Peter Obi does not have the structures to win the presidency.” They have not realized that the 21st Century political structures have changed, and Obi has no intention of fighting them in their usual styles.

Right now, the major political parties and their bigoted followers are full of scorn toward those supporting Peter Obi. They label them vote wasters. The major political parties and their candidates come with deep pockets and heavyweights, and they scorn those with genuine desires for change, but it will soon dawn on them before they know that the battle has changed.

©Rees Chikwendu