By Dan Onwukwe
By the time the history of 2023 general elections is written, historians will record it that Mr. Peter Obi’s entry into the Presidential race on the platform of Labour Party was like a knight on a white horse. The excitement it has generated among Nigerians, especially the youths is unprecedented.
And for those caught unawares by his emergence, it Obi’s emergence is like a fox entering into the chicken coop. Panic has encircled his opponents’ camp. Moreover, history will record it for Obi, that indeed, there is so much one man with integrity and strength of character and competence can do to change the course of his people who desire a new pathway to politics and governance.
It will also be written to his
credit that though no leader can be great who does not know how to use power,
all the same, someone can truly lead without first acquiring power. That’s why
you see all the rallies across the country, all for him, gratis. That’s why
Peter Obi, a two-term governor of Anambra state, has become a conversation of
some sorts across Nigeria and abroad, a guiding light that democracy truly
revolves around people, and the people in turn, gravitate to a leader who
understands them and feels their pains.
I
am inclined to believe that, deep down his soul, Obi is acutely aware that it’s
not all about him, but that the people are attracted to a politician as a
rallying point, who will talk and do, not platitudes but ready with solutions
to present-hour realities, someone who can give hope in a season of
hopelessness, optimism amid pessimism. Anybody who is still in doubt
why recent opinion polls ahead of the 2023 Presidential election have favoured
Obi, it’s because the man is the real deal.
Note
this: polls or surveys provide a vital tool for understanding the choices
before registered voters. Even though they are fuzzy estimates that may not be
precise because they are samples, polls do tell us a lot going forward. Above
all, without opinion polls, says Scott Keeler, director of research at the Pew
Research Centre, USA, we might just have “public officials claiming whatever
they want”. With about 145 days left until the presidential election scheduled
for February 25, 2023, according to the surveys conducted by reputable
organisations, if the election is held today, Peter Obi will emerge as
Nigeria’s President-elect.
That’s why some of his opponents are running high blood pressure,
and resorting to throwing all manner of below-the -belt jabs to malign the
truth. But their lies are not sticking. These are the verdicts of some of the
opinion polls. NOI, a survey commissioned by Atedo Peterside’s ANAP Foundation
puts Obi on 21 percent, and Atiku Abubakar of the PDP and Bola Tinubu of APC
tied on 13 percent, while Rabiu Kwankwaso of the NNPP at 3 percent. Daily Trust
survey gave Obi 64 percent, Tinubu 16 percent, and Atiku, 14 percent. The
latest poll by Bloomberg News, a U.S. news outlet by Premise Data Corp; puts
Obi on a massive 72 percent, ahead of other candidates. Of those still
undecided, 45 percent said Obi is their preferred candidate.
What
does all of this tell you? Nigeria is most likely to
experience a sea change in the outcome of next year’s election. I foresee a
visionary of breathtaking scope. Keep that in mind. But, Obi-Datti campaign and
its supporters need not rest on their oars, because the demonical forces that
have held Nigeria down for so long are not sleeping. Your PVC is the key to
unlock a better future for Nigeria, led by Obi. His enemies are legion. They
are devicing every conceivable means to thwart the people’s verdict. But time
seems to be running out on them. You know why?
Every
election campaign has this cadence and rhythm, style and sparkle that sets it
apart. Since Obi emerged on the scene, almost the whole country has
become aglitter. His presence is like sunshine after the storm. It’s always
darkest before dawn. The ideas, the message, the
energy he has generated across the country and abroad, are certainly things we
have not heard or seen in many years of our pork barrel politics. Suddenly,
tagline like “Obidients” has become the vogue.
It’s
a phrase to interpret the mood of the country, a search for an alternative
political platform and leadership since the old order has failed
Nigerians. The new alternative has a sense of urgency, with Obi as the rescuer of the sinking Titanic, called Nigeria. But it
won’t be a quick-fix because Nigeria is already maimed and broken.
The reason why all the opinion polls are in his favour is
essentially because the man is uniquely different. Providence may have a hand in
it, who knows? This is part of the reason. One of the real leadership lessons
of late Apple CEO, Steve Jobs is contained in Apple’s two-word tagline: “Think
Different”. Again, you may ask, What did Steve Jobs mean by that? It means
mindfulness. Mindfulness means paying attention to your present moment
experience.
What
do the people need, and what offerings have you to satisfy those needs? It also
means, drop all your old theories and perceived ideas that have not worked, and
pay due attention to the raw reality coming through your five senses and your
mind. It also connotes doing away with the meaninglessness of that selfish
entitlement mentality that “it’s my turn” politics.
Obi’s aspiration has become a movement whose time has come. It’s
too late for anybody to stop it. The truth is that no one wants to follow a
Franken-leader anymore, the kind that has brought tears and sorrow to millions
of Nigerians but has enriched just few at the detriment of the majority. That’s
what Obi is fighting on our behalf. The difference between him and the rest
reveals the quality of his uncompromising character to unwholesome behaviour,
of “politics as usual”.
These
are virtues in short supply among our present politicians. That’s why he said
recently, “I rather lose doing the right thing than win doing the wrong thing”. He has said many times that he’s seeking the office of the
presidency not for self, but to use that great power to achieve great purposes.
“I can’t sleep because I know what to do… I know the problems of Nigeria and I
know I can fix them”. But he needs our help. “Hunger”, he says “takes people to
the streets, but jobs and food will obviously take them out of the streets and
crimes”.
He reminds everyone about his specialty, that of creating jobs and wealth. His years as governor and entrepreneur have shown clearly that there’s no margin for errors in his ability to do that. “I have not come out for myself. I have come out for the millions of youths who are losing hope in our beloved country. I have come out for the millions of women who are afraid of tomorrow and what it holds for them and their children”.
He also says his quest for the presidency is to liberate the poor who are asking whether it’s a sin to be a Nigerian. These are words of a man with convictions. Nigeria is lacking men who think beyond self. For those who are afraid of the opinion polls so far released, they need a lot of catch up to do: One thing is certain: Obi has brought new hope and optimism, a warm hand to our polluted politics.
He
is redefining the work of leadership in our nation. From now, political leaders
will no longer see themselves as so-called grand visionaries, all-wise decision
makers, and ironfisted men who see the office of the presidency as their
birthright. For this category of politicians, power means being able to bend
people to their will and steal from the common till.
With
such men, when they get power, there’s nothing there else to do but the desire
for more power, not to solve problems. They have no agenda but to dominate the
rest of us. But, Obi insists he is creating an environment where every Nigerian
has the chance to collaborate and excel. He argues that he is seeking power to
accomplish goals in all sectors of our economy that are in ruins now.
As I stated in this column in June, one key element of what Obi
has brought to our consciousness is his realism, his ability to look facts –
even very unpleasant facts – in the face and not let himself be deluded by
wishful thinking. This is a political version of a businessman’s interest in
balance sheet, where the right thing should be done. And that starts with good
leadership. Peter Obi’s journey has just begun, from agenda setter to problem
solver. It’s all about putting Nigeria’s interest first. It’s a huge task
ahead. And he knows it.
*Onwukwe is a commentator on public issues
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