Peter Gregory, Young Nigerians’ hopes and aspirations for a better and more modern Nigeria are embodied by Obi’s effort to become president of Nigeria. It is undeniable that the Nigerian project no longer inspires hope in the millions of young Nigerians. Their hope and trust in the Nigerian political leaders have been eroded by decades of oppressive military regimes and decadent political administrations. They had the opportunity to express their disgust, annoyance, and displeasure with Nigeria’s poor economic and political situation during the EndSARS protest, which descended into violence.
But those young Nigerians were forced to stand in line behind Mr. Peter Obi, a former governor of Anambra State who is not of the same stock as our political leaders. Mr. Obi joined the Labour Party and is now its presidential candidate. The Obidients are the name given to those young Nigerians who support and adhere to Mr. Peter Obi.
They come from various racial and religious backgrounds. However, they are all dissatisfied with the way things are going in Nigeria, which is what unites them.
They consequently decided not to remain silent following Nigeria’s terribly flawed presidential election in 2023. They denounced it in the same way as the local and international observers teams who watched that presidential election. They were vocal and adamant in their demands that the Nigerian presidential election be called off in 2023. They have also been called unkind, unprintable, and unflattering names by members of the APC, the country’s ruling political party, for their criticisms of that election.
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The Obidients, as Mr. Peter Obi’s supporters are referred to, have been charged with intolerance for those who hold Mr. Peter Obi-disapproving views and opinions. Also harshly critical of them was Wole Soyinka, the first black man to win the Nobel Prise for literature. Fascists, he called them.
Worse still, those who are alarmed by Mr. Peter Obi’s growing notoriety and symbolisms do not spare him or his presidential running mate, Baba-Ahmed Datti, vicious verbal attacks. For instance, Baba-Ahmed Datti was charged with committing a treasonable offence when he declared on Channels Television that if Bola Tinubu were to be sworn in as our president on May 29, 2023, democracy in Nigeria would come to an end. Wole Soyinka received criticism for that statement from others. For that alleged infraction as well, Channels Television paid a five million naira fine.
Additionally, Peter Obi was falsely accused of being the supporter of those who advocated for the installation of an interim national government while the Supreme Court considered the presidential election case. If Bola Tinubu is sworn in as our president before the outcome of the presidential electoral case, the proponents of the constitution of the Interim National Government for Nigeria believe he will hold a position of great power. They also believe he can use the vast power at his disposal to sway the jury’s decision in his favour. They do have some valid points and points of contention. The truth is that they have a point. However, the leaders of the APC are publicly slamming Mr. Peter Obi for his viewpoint.
The government of President Buhari has despotic tendencies, as is clear from the foregoing. Though it calls itself a democratic government, the APC-led administration is rapidly evoking a fascist one.
And to date, the President Muhammadu Buhari-led APC administration has reversed the gains and accomplishments we have made since the fourth republic’s founding in 1999. President Buhari’s misrule of Nigeria has led to the economic stagnation, technological lag, security issues, and infrastructure deficit that we are currently experiencing in Nigeria, as opposed to providing us with good, purposeful, and result-oriented political leadership that will transform Nigeria positively. President Buhari’s ascension to the presidency was heralded by the APC’s mantra of change, but it has not yet materialised in Nigeria.
As a result, the Obidients supported Mr. Peter Obi in his efforts to pursue his presidential election case to completion and usher in a new Nigeria by refusing to give up despite the unacceptable and intolerable state of the country. The people of Nigeria are fed up with the country’s economic stagnation, technological laggardism, high unemployment rate, and infrastructure deficit, and Mr. Peter Obi is the personification of that discontent.
But the malicious verbal attacks made against Mr. Peter Obi and the nefarious schemes hatched and carried out against him might have a psychological impact on him and lessen his zeal to keep up the fight for a better and new Nigeria. His political adversaries who defame him want to damage his reputation in order to lower his value in our eyes. Additionally, they are working nonstop to distance him from his supporters.
For instance, the impersonation of him by a fake person was found as soon as the commotion surrounding the leaked audio conversation between him and Bishop Oyedepo died down. Furthermore, it is thought that APC stalwarts are behind the unrest that has plagued the Labour Party. The possibility that the Labour Party’s troublemakers are employed by the APC’s financiers is not remote.
To be clear, Mr. Peter Obi represents the hopes, aspirations, and dreams of millions of Nigerians who want a better and more modern Nigeria for both themselves and future generations of Nigerians. Those Nigerians see you, Mr. Peter Obi, as a ray of hope, a bulwark of our democratic ideals, and the political Messiah who will rescue Nigeria from the abyss of underdevelopment into which it has descended.
Finally, Mr. Peter Obi, I want you to know that the fight to reclaim Nigeria from the political rapaciousness, ethnic irredentists and chauvinists, and religious bigots will be a protracted one. It’s time to raise the white flag. In addition, the Obidient movement’s army is prepared to support you in your efforts to bring about a new Nigeria. Therefore, resist the temptation to give up and continue to fight for your freedom.
