There’s been a few instances on social media lately, where supporters of Peter Obi, the Labour Party Presidential standard-bearer, have descended on anyone who asks tough questions of one of the frontline candidates.
Investigative journalist Fisayo Soyombo certainly had enough of the canonization of Obi last week.
“When we criticize Tinubu or Atiku, we know the things you say. But when we criticize Peter Obi, you go “do you want to vote Jesus Christ ”? I’m just watching your hypocrisy in 5D,” Soyombo tweeted in frustration.
Even Rinu Oduala and Aisha Yesufu, who are both self-confessed ‘OBIdients’ (that’s what Obi’s supporters are called, in case you’ve been under some rock), have been dragged from Kafanchan to Epe for holding the feet of the politician to the fire.
“If the same question was asked of other candidates or to other candidates, would you be as offended as you are? Your answer tells you who you are. Sycophancy is a disease. Do not allow it to get a hold of you. Good morning!,” said an exasperated Yesufu who had only asked about how Obi would deal with the thorny issue of police brutality.
Oduala’s take was even more scathing: “In case you didn’t know, I’m not Obidient to anyone o. I support PO’s presidential candidacy, yes. Am I a member of Labour Party? No. Am I Obidient to a particular person? No. I’m only here for a better country.”
I’ve been excited about the increased voter awareness and sensitisation among young Nigerians aged 18-35 recently. I’ve been excited about their insistence daily on social media that their right to vote and choose leaders who will look after their interests, be respected, ahead of the 2023 elections.
There’s this manic, almost feral excitement around the Obi candidacy, with thousands of young people on social media looking up to the man as the one person who will save a nation on the brink.
It is precisely for the above reasons that Obi should perhaps be grilled more than any other presidential candidate. The scripture says the “Lord disciplines those he loves.”
Obi shouldn’t be spared a fair crack of the whip just because he’s flavour of the month ahead of the 2023 election.
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Obi didn’t fall from the sky and shouldn’t be draped in messianic garb. He was governor of a state for 8 years and until recently, he was a member of the PDP–one of the most hated political parties in the land for 16 years. Those who say Obi is a part of the establishment are right on the money.
Love or loathe him however, Obi should be asked what he intends to do about rising inflation, police brutality, our nation’s debt burden, dwindling revenues, decrepit infrastructure, recurring electricity grid collapses and power generation, embarrassing forex rate, skyrocketing unemployment numbers and removal of petrol subsidy.
He should tell us how he intends to fix Nigeria in brass tack terms.
The stats from our economy make for grim, bleak reading:
As at the end of July 2022, the fiscal operations of the federal government resulted in an estimated budget deficit of N4.63 trillion. This represents 63 percent of the estimated deficit for the full year. This is because of revenue shortfalls and higher debt service obligations resulting from rising debt levels and interest rates.
Domestic borrowing now stands at N4.12 trillion. Nigeria’s total public debt stock increased from N39.6 trillion as at the end of December 2021 to N42.8 trillion as at the end of June, 2022.
Nigeria hasn’t been able to meet its reduced OPEC crude oil quota of 1.8 million barrels per day because of crude oil theft and vandalism in the Niger Delta; and food inflation now stands at 23 percent–perhaps the highest it has ever been.
The next Nigerian President will meet an economy in ruins and almost nothing left in the coffers. How will Peter Obi fix Nigeria with an almost empty treasury? Like every other candidate, the man needs to be made to answer the tough questions in clear, unmistakable terms.
How does he intend to diversify the economy? Obi isn’t just going to wave a magic wand, should he win, moreso because he may not have the majority in the legislature to see things his way.
And he’s got to be asked those questions now and even more so by his supporters and admirers. The idea that anyone who asks searing, searching questions of Obi hates the man, needs to die.
He’s still human after all, lest we forget. A human who should earn every vote.