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Tag: Peter Obi

  • Peter Obi: No limits to desperation?

    Peter Obi: No limits to desperation?

    Sir: Former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, recently stirred controversy with his comments describing some Nigerian internet fraudsters, popularly known as “Yahoo boys,” as “geniuses” whose creativity could be redirected for national growth. Speaking at an event in Onitsha, Obi reportedly said, “Some of our so-called Yahoo boys are geniuses who need redirection, not condemnation. Their creativity and courage, if properly guided, can drive innovation and national development.”

    This statement, credited to a man who once came close to leading the nation, is not only troubling but reflects the level of desperation that has come to define Nigeria’s political space, especially as the 2027 elections draw nearer. It is the kind of comment that may sound appealing to some segments of society but, in reality, reveals a dangerous attempt to court public sympathy by downplaying criminal behaviour.

    It is important to ask, what creativity exists in the criminal act of defrauding innocent people? How can the deliberate act of deception, theft, and manipulation be described as “genius”? By that same logic, should we also describe drug traffickers, ritual killers, or armed robbers as “innovative minds” who only need guidance?

    Everything is not about politics. A leader aspiring to occupy the highest office in the land must have the moral courage to condemn evil in its entirety. When public figures begin to rationalize or beautify crime in the name of empathy, they send a dangerous message to the younger generation, that criminal behaviour can be tolerated if it is cleverly executed.

    There is absolutely nothing “creative” or “ingenious” about internet fraud. It is a manifestation of greed, laziness, and moral decay. Anyone can choose that path, but those who do so are not geniuses, they are criminals. The only reason such crimes thrive in Nigeria is because our laws are weak and enforcement even weaker. In societies where laws are strong and punishment is certain, internet fraud is rare, not because people there lack the intelligence to commit it, but because they understand the consequences.

    If, as Peter Obi claims, there is genius in Yahoo Yahoo, why do Nigerians who engage in it struggle to sustain such activities in Western countries where the law takes its course? The answer is simple; there is no genius in crime, only the absence of deterrence. It is the failure of our institutions that gives criminals room to operate freely, not their exceptional brilliance.

    Read Also: Nigeria records over $50b in cryptocurrency trading

    For someone aspiring to lead a nation, such a statement is not only unfortunate but immoral. It exposes a worrying lapse in his judgment and a tendency to prioritize popularity over principle.

    True leadership demands clarity of values, not the convenient bending of morality to suit political interests. Nigerians deserve leaders who can call wrong by its name, not those who romanticize it in the hope of attracting sympathy from the youth.

    Until we stop glorifying or rationalizing crime in any form, our society will continue to decay under the weight of misplaced values. A society that must rise to greatness cannot afford to celebrate fraud, dishonesty, or corruption, no matter how cleverly packaged they appear.

    The path to national development lies not in praising wrongdoers, but in building systems that severely condemn wrongdoing, reward integrity, discipline, and hard work.

    Nigeria’s future depends on leaders who can inspire honesty, not those who attempt to sanitize criminality in the name of creativity.

    In the end, Peter Obi’s statement does not reflect compassion or understanding; it reflects the desperation of a politician eager to remain relevant ahead of the 2027 elections.

    •Chionye Hencs Odiaka, Asaba, Delta State.

  • There’s nothing genius about Yahoo Yahoo, APC replies Obi

    There’s nothing genius about Yahoo Yahoo, APC replies Obi

    Lagos State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has noted, with deep concern, the recent obscene and morally-reprehensible statement credited to the 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi, describing internet fraudsters, popularly known as Yahoo boys, as “geniuses who need redirection, not condemnation.”

    Spokesman Seye Oladejo, in a statement yesterday in Ogba, Lagos, said: ‘’’This reckless comment represents a new low from a politician on a free fall – a man so desperate to remain politically-relevant that he now seeks validation through controversy. It is both disappointing and dangerous that someone who once aspired to lead Nigeria would trivialise criminality in a country striving to rebuild its moral foundation.

    ‘’We are worried about Mr. Obi’s state of mind – one that glorifies fraudulent practices, while condemning corruption and dishonesty in the same breath. Such contradiction exposes a profound moral confusion that has no place in leadership.

    ‘’From his recent statements, Nigerians owe their Creator immense gratitude that the nation dodged a bullet during the last presidential election. The thought of someone with such confused values at the helm of national affairs is terrifying.

    READ ALSO: Ekiti 2026: 885 delegates to pick APC Gov candidate

    ‘’It has become evident that the collapse of his so-called “movement” and the lack of a credible political platform have brought out the worst in him. His desperation for attention has replaced reasoned leadership with reckless speech. There should be a limit to unbridled desperation.

    ‘’Obi owes youths – particularly those he misled through propaganda, misinformation and emotional manipulation – a sincere apology.

    He exploited their hopes, fed their frustrations and built a campaign on deceit and social media hysteria. The least he can do now is to retain some modicum of respect by refraining from further embarrassing statements that insult the intelligence of the same young people he deceived. True leadership demands responsibility, not recklessness; moral strength, not moral confusion.

    ‘’While the APC firmly believes in youth empowerment and innovation, we reject any attempt to romanticise fraud or excuse crime under the pretext of compassion. Internet fraud is not genius; it is theft, deceit and moral failure.

    ‘’Under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, youths are being equipped with real opportunities through initiatives such as the 3MTT (Three Million Technical Talent Programme), NELFUND and digital innovation programmes that provide legitimate avenues for success.

    ‘’This is how responsible leadership redirects youthful potential – through empowerment and skill, not through glorification of crime.

    ‘’Leadership is about values, not vibes; about integrity, not impulsiveness. Obi’s latest outburst is a tragic reminder that populism without principle is a danger to democracy.

    ‘’APC remains committed to promoting discipline, innovation and moral rectitude as the true path to Nigeria’s greatness. Our youths deserve mentorship, not manipulation; inspiration, not incitement.’’

  • Obi sues Adeyanju for ‘defamation’

    Obi sues Adeyanju for ‘defamation’

    • I will prove my case in court, says activist

    The 2023 Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate and former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi has instituted a N1.5 billion defamation suit against Abuja-based rights activist and lawyer, Deji Adeyanju.

    Obi instituted the suit at the High Court of Anambra State sitting in Onitsha.

    The former governor had, in August, threatened to take a legal action against the lawyer over alleged defamation.

    His legal threat followed Adeyanju’s legal action against one of Obi’s aides, Serah Ibrahim, who allegedly defamed the lawyer’s wife.

    The lawyer had, in reaction to the demand notice, mocked the legal threat in a Facebook post.

    Adeyanju, a consistent critic of Peter Obi, has long insisted that the former governor would never become Nigeria’s president.

    He has also clashed repeatedly with Obi’s supporters, called Obidients, over his online commentaries.

    In his suit, Obi is seeking a series of declaratory and injunctive reliefs against Adeyanju for allegedly publishing “false, baseless, unfounded, malicious, reckless, scandalous, and defamatory” statements against him across multiple social media platforms.

    The writ of summons, issued on October 3 and addressed to Adeyanju of D4 Makuru Close, Wuse II, Abuja, asked him to enter an appearance within 42 days of service or risk judgment being entered in default.

    According to the endorsement on the writ, Obi is seeking a declaration that Adeyanju’s various publications on his verified social media handles, including X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, and Instagram, are defamatory and damaging to his reputation.

    The ex-governor is also praying the court for an order compelling the lawyer to publish a full, unreserved apology to him on all his social media handles and in at least three national newspapers, as well as on major television and online platforms, such as Channels TV, TVC News, and Arise News.

    Read Also: Lokpobiri hails Tompolo on peace in Niger Delta, seeks expansion of security contracts

    Obi is also seeking a retraction and deletion of all defamatory posts labeling him as a “religious bigot,” “fraud,” “political prostitute,” “scum,” and other disparaging terms.

    The former LP presidential candidate is also seeking a perpetual injunction restraining Adeyanju from further making or publishing any defamatory material against him.

    He is also asking the court to award aggravated or exemplary damages of N500 million for what he described as “reckless and malicious” defamation.

    Obi is also seeking general damages of N1 billion for the reputational harm, ridicule, and emotional distress allegedly caused by Adeyanju’s posts and utterances.

    The former Anambra governor also wants the cost of litigation and professional fees incurred in instituting the suit, with an additional request for 18 per cent interest per annum on the judgment sum until liquidation paid by the defendant.

    Adeyanju confirmed receipt of the court summons in a Facebook post last Friday.

    “Finally, Peter Obi has sued me. I am actually happy and relieved that he didn’t chicken out in the end. Interestingly, he dragged me all the way to Anambra State, even though he is almost always in Abuja where I reside.

    “But no shaking, we move. I will prove in court that Peter Obi is corrupt, a bigot, and a fraud. You will all be entertained, I promise,” he wrote.

    The case, which has generated intense interest on social media, is expected to test the limits of online speech, defamation law, and the boundaries of political criticism in Nigeria.

  • Peter Obi, Kenneth Okonkwo and verbal jousting

    Peter Obi, Kenneth Okonkwo and verbal jousting

    The battle began innocuously days ago, and it provided a window into the mind of former Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate in the 2023 election, Peter Obi. A certain Katch Ononuju, director general of the Abuja-based Heritage Centre, had declared in an interview that Kenneth Okonkwo, lawyer, actor and former LP presidential campaign spokesman, had lobbied to be the publicity secretary of the party. Mr Okonkwo was not just incensed but also shocked. He said that he expected Mr Obi to halt the antics of someone lying in his name. It seemed a simple enough fight; but it soon snowballed into a fiery exchange between the actor and the former candidate, with Mr Ononuju, the agent provocateur, becoming a bystander.

    Convinced that he had never lobbied anyone for a position, let alone for a lower position, Mr Okonkwo painted his disappointment colourfully. Said he: “How is it that people are lying with Peter Obi’s name, and Peter Obi would hear such a thing publicly and would not react to it and would not call them to order publicly? You can never use me, Kenneth Okonkwo, to lie against Peter Obi, no matter the situation, because I detest lies. It shows a leader who cannot even defend the truth or defend people who have worked for him. These are the kind of problems Peter Obi has, attracting even street urchins, classless street urchins who are ill-bred. Those are the kind of followers he’s attracting now.”

    Here is where the story got incandescent. Instead of simply refuting Mr Okonkwo’s allegations, Mr Obi sidestepped the part that involved Mr Ononuju, and launched into a discourse on egalitarianism. Or, to be more historical, and in perhaps an unconscious imitation of Voltaire, Montesquieu, Rousseau, and Diderot,  the French philosophes, Mr Obi wrote a disproportionate thesis on the concepts of egalite, equalite, fraternite – all to answer why he failed to set the records straight in the matter of Okonkwo vs. Ononuju. It may seem sophomoric philosophy, especially seeing that he was a student of philosophy himself, but Mr Obi is capable of throwing red herring and using colourful yet uncharismatic language. For the former governor, the acerbic exchange between Mr Okonkwo and Mr Ononuju was not about truth or falsehood; it was instead about how to view the poor and the dispossessed, his eternal and jejune fancy. To him, it was, indeed, about street urchins.

    Read Also: APC group to Peter Obi: tell Otti to account for Abia’s revenue management

    Here is how Mr Obi framed the answer to a question not posed by Mr Okonkwo: “Humanity is paramount in my politics, no street urchins. Lately, I have heard a few people say that those who follow Peter Obi are low-class Nigerians, and some have even gone as far as calling them ‘street urchins’ and people of no value. It is deeply unfortunate that in today’s Nigeria, citizens now look down on fellow citizens in such a degrading manner. I have never and will never look down on anyone, except to lift them up…My involvement in politics has never been about associating with the so-called high and mighty, but about standing with the ordinary Nigerians whose voices have been silenced and whose resources have been stolen by the same ‘big names’ who now parade themselves with all sorts of titles and names…No Nigerian is a street urchin. It speaks volumes about the state of our nation that everyday Nigerians are now battered by poverty and hardship, to the point their leaders refer to them as of no value, and urchins.”

    Mr Obi said he ‘heard a few people say’. For inexplicable reasons he was unprepared to mention Mr Okonkwo, the secondary object of his thesis, by name. Yet, his explanation about street urchins and how they are treated smacks of excessive condescension. It is clear that Mr Okonkwo made reference to street urchins in the context of a class of people unable to engage in the smallest exercise of logical deductions. Well, one is a lawyer, and the other a third-rate philosopher. Worse, rather than set the records straight, Mr Obi actually preferred to politique. Thereafter, he engaged in extrapolations and then deplored Nigerian leaders’ view of the poor, putting words in their mouths, and all but concluding that Mr Okonkwo belonged to that category of snobbish leadership. Mr Obi obviously and alarmingly views all this as politics. But he was not done, for, as he is wont, he must end every public statement with jaded sermons. Hear him: “Every Nigerian deserves dignity, opportunity, and care. That is why I will continue to do my part to ensure that the ordinary Nigerians enjoy a better life, one built on access to education, quality healthcare, and genuine efforts to lift them out of poverty. True leadership is not about mocking the weak; it is about lifting them up.” Nigerians do not have a global reputation for mediocre reasoning or tolerating mendacity. It is, therefore, mystifying why a loud and impertinent section of the populace finds Mr Obi’s drivelling fascinating.

  • APC group to Peter Obi: tell Otti to account for Abia’s revenue management

    APC group to Peter Obi: tell Otti to account for Abia’s revenue management

    …says APC will take Abia in 2027

    A support group within the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Abia State, Abia Best Interest Association (ABIA), has called on the former Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate, Peter Obi, to ensure transparency and accountability from Abia state governor, Alex Otti, over what it described as “massive revenue inflow” to the state.

    Speaking to journalists in Abuja on Monday, the group’s convener, Hon. Eze Chikamnayo, criticised Obi for constantly faulting the federal government while allegedly ignoring governance issues in the only state controlled by his party.

    Chikamnayo accused the Otti administration of operating a system “marked by corruption, impunity, and lack of transparency,” saying it contradicted the values Obi often preaches.

    “If we talk about accountability at the federal level and refuse to talk about it at the state and local government levels, we make ourselves hypocrites and undermine the essence of good governance in Nigeria,” he said.

    “We have a message for Mr. Peter Obi. He is galivanting to Indonesia, going to India, and even going to Egypt to look for a model on how Nigeria should be governed. I say to him: Stop this hypocrisy. You don’t need to go abroad. Go to Abia State — the only Labour Party state in Nigeria — and ask Mr. Alex Otti how the N54 billion meant for education was taken for Smart Schools, yet no single school is to be found,” Chikamnayo added.

    Ahead of the 2027 governorship election, the APC group also cautioned Governor Otti against plans to defect to the APC, saying he would not be welcomed and would face defeat from “competent and loyal members” of the party in the state.

    Read Also: Peter Obi celebrates Chimamanda on 48th birthday

    He said, “We will not welcome Mr. Alex Otti with his excess baggage, and with his corruption, and with his lack of transparency, and with his lack of accountability to the APC at the state.

    “Anybody who is thinking that he is going to cooperate with Mr. Alex Otti continued his era of complete intimidation, his era of complete impunity, his era of complete anarchy in Abia State by joining APC through the backdoor, such a person is day-dreaming

    “Abia State APC has in its kitty competent men who are capable of joining hands with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to make sure that APC and the Renewed Hope Agenda are made available to the people of Abia State, both at the state and the local government levels.

    “So, we are set to replace Mr. Alex Otti in 2027 with the APC government that will make sure that the Renewed Hope Agenda is spread to the grassroots in Abia State.”

    Dismissing the propaganda that the incumbent is unbeatable, Chikamnayo said, “People who are saying that Alex Otti is not beatable are building castles in the air. Mr Alex Otti knows within his heart that he is completely using the machinery of media propaganda and manipulation to build an image that doesn’t exist.

    “The reality in Abia state today is that civil servants are being repressed, the reality on the ground in Abia state today is that there are phantom projects that used to siphon billions of Abia money without accountability and transparency.

    “The reality in Abia state today is that Abians are yearning for liberation, and that liberation must come to pass in 2027. Alex Otti will be roundly defeated in 2027 because Abia people are tired of his rule that has become a rule of tyranny and a complete rule of confusion.”

  • Obi blames woes on leadership failure 

    Obi blames woes on leadership failure 

    Former Anambra State governor Peter Obi, yesterday x-rayed  Nigeria’s journey as a nation and concluded that leadership failure has derailed the vision of those who fought for its independence.

    Obi, in a statement on his X handle to mark the country’s 65th Independence Day, recalled that Nigeria, which was  once projected to become   Africa’s economic giant, has   “slipped to the fourth-largest economy on the continent.”

    He lamented that years of poor governance and waste have not only worsened poverty but also widened inequality.

    The tweet reads: “Our founding fathers fought for independence with confidence and determination to build a prosperous Nigeria.

    “Unfortunately, tragic failures of leadership derailed this vision.

    Obi claimed that as of 2007, Nigeria’s debt was about N2.5 trillion — less than 10 per cent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP)  when former President Olusegun Obasanjo secured debt relief for the country. 

    Read Also: Akpabio to Tinubu: prepare to receive more opposition governors into APC

    He added that by 2014, Nigeria had become Africa’s largest economy and was set to attain middle-income status.

    The LP  candidate lamented that the progress was “truncated” after the All Progressives Congress (APC)  came into power in 2015.

    He said: “Today, our debt has ballooned to about N175 trillion, nearly 50 per cent of GDP, without corresponding improvement in productive sectors.  

    “Nigeria has fallen behind South Africa, Egypt, and Algeria. Our democracy is now described as undemocratic.

    Obi accused the government of spending lavishly while millions of Nigerians have no access to healthcare, education, or safe water.

    He also said  that insecurity has further affected the economy, with kidnapping and terrorism keeping Nigerians in fear.”

    “Cronyism, corruption, and disregard for the rule of law have scared away investors, while other African countries are overtaking us as investment destinations,” Obi said.

    Obi, however, expressed optimism that Nigeria could still achieve greatness. 

     He urged Nigerians not to lose hope because  ‘’Nigeria will rise again.”  added.

  • Lagos condemns Obi’s ‘misleading’ tirade on Trade Fair demolition

    Lagos condemns Obi’s ‘misleading’ tirade on Trade Fair demolition

    The Lagos State Government has condemned ex-Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi over his statement on the demolition at the Trade Fair Complex where Lagos State Government enforced its Physical Planning Laws. 

    Obi joined a high-powered delegation to visit the site of the demolished ASPAMDA Market at the Trade Fair Complex in Lagos where plazas were pulled down.

    He commended the affected traders for showing restraint and maintaining peace in the face of what he described as “painful loss and injustice.”

    He enjoined governments at all levels to act with compassion and fairness, especially given that many of the traders had taken loans to finance their businesses. 

    He noted that destroying legitimate investments without due process was “not only unjust but also economically destructive.”

    Obi stressed that a nation aspiring to progress must protect enterprise, encourage productivity, and defend the dignity of its citizens, warning that “incidents like this have no place in a society that seeks fairness, stability, and shared prosperity.”

    Commissioner for Information and Strategy Gbenga Omotoso recalled that Obi praised the traders for what he called their “restraint”, adding that the buildings that were knocked down had approvals. 

    According to Omotoso, Obi launched into emotional theatrics, describing the incident as “a test of impunity, justice and compassion” – all in an effort to mislead the public by misinformation and disinformation. 

    Read Also: Oriyomi Hamzat faults Peter Obi’s salutation to Olubadan

    This, he said, is unfair. 

    Omotoso, while presenting the facts of the matter, stated that the owners of the building have no approval. 

    He said: “They got ample time to regularise their papers when the state government declared last year a general amnesty, which was extended several times. The owners shunned the offer.

    “When Physical Planning officials visited the complex, the gates were locked against them; they were beaten up. The police rescued them. When the government called the owners for talks, they said they would not come; they did not come. 

    “Their defence is that the Management Board of the Trade Fair permitted them to build their structures. This is wrong. The board, which is a creation of the Federal Government to manage the complex, does not have powers to approve or regulate building developments within the complex independent of Lagos State Government. 

    “Physical Planning and building approvals are within the remit of State Governments. Under the Nigerian Urban and Regional Planning Act (1992, as domesticated by Lagos State’s Physical Planning and Development Regulations), all physical development in any part of Lagos must obtain planning permit/approval from the Lagos State Government through its Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development. 

    “This position was further clarified and reinforced by The Supreme Court judgment of 2003 (Attorney-General of Lagos State v. Attorney-General of the Federation) that land use and physical planning fall under concurrent jurisdiction, and states retain the authority to regulate development control within their territories, including federal lands, except for core areas like military formations or exclusive federal enclaves.

    “The Trade Fair Complex Board may manage leases, tenancies, and commercial activities, but any construction, alteration, or development still requires Lagos State planning permit. Otherwise, such developments would be deemed illegal under state law, and the Lagos State Government has the power to seal or demolish them.

    “In other words, the Management Board can allocate spaces and give administrative consent, but building approvals must pass through Lagos State Government.”

    The commissioner added that Nigerians must decide the kind of society they want – one governed by law or one run by emotions, fueled by political interests.

  • Obi should stop playing politics with philanthropy, says Lagos APC

    Obi should stop playing politics with philanthropy, says Lagos APC

    Lagos State chapter of All Progressives Congress (APC) has noted with disappointment, comment by the Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate in the 2023 general election, Mr Peter Obi, questioning why the National Library should receive birthday donations.

    The party in a statement yesterday by its spokesperson Seye Oladejo, said: ‘’It is unfortunate, though not surprising, that Mr. Obi continues to reduce every matter of national interest to cheap political commentary. Across the world, public institutions benefit from private support, endowments and philanthropy. Such gestures complement government’s efforts and reflect shared responsibility for nation-building.

    ‘’Rather than commend well-meaning Nigerians for supporting an important national institution, Obi has chosen once again to play politics with philanthropy. This is not only petty, but also exposes his shallow appreciation of how societies grow stronger when citizens contribute to the common good.

    READ ALSO; Moral rot on steroids

    ‘’More so, Obi should be the last to complain. As governor of Anambra State, schools and hospitals under his watch relied heavily on private interventions and church-based donations. If such support was acceptable in his state, why suddenly demonise it at the national level? Nigerians can see through this double standard.

    ‘’While President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is focused on reforms to strengthen institutions and reposition the economy, Obi appears stuck in the habit of chasing headlines. As our people say, “the man who sees every rainfall as a storm will never plant a seed.”

    ‘’Lagos APC urges Nigerians to ignore Obi’s theatrics and recognise that supporting the National Library through donations is a noble and commendable act. Our focus as a nation should remain on building, not tearing down the institutions that serve us all.’’

  • Obi goes to Obasanjo, Ladoja

    Obi goes to Obasanjo, Ladoja

    Hooray!  Peter Obi just visited former President Olusegun Obasanjo and Olubadan-elect Oba Rashidi Ladoja, former elected governor of Oyo State (2003-2007)!

    But what do these visits add to his political profile — the penetration of a key demographic, en route to 2017?

    Well, not an illegitimate prospect, though a tad dreamy.  Obi’s clatter on X has been a regular fare now: joy to his Obidient zealots — who unflattering Obi foes call zombies. But plain irritation to the Obi-sceptic, who wince at his many infantile hyperboles and sweeping generalizations: to project his personal distemper, and keep droning about his preferred bad news!

    Well, again, that’s hardly a crime.  Obi is in opposition.  Like many in his clan, in these climes, they haven’t developed the ability to distil problems and come out with clinical solutions.  So, all forms of bogeys and jeremiads would do to veil a lack of penetrative thinking.

    Still, what Obi wants folks to draw with visits to Obasanjo and Ladoja is not clear. Okay, perhaps he is still super-grateful to Obasanjo over services rendered in 2023?

    Didn’t Obasanjo call on the late President Muhammadu Buhari to cancel the election, just because Obi, who he backed, was losing, or had lost? 

    For the one that kids himself as the father of modern Nigeria, the irony of another annulment, after the tragedy of June 12, 1993, was totally lost on him.  PMB ignored him — and just as well!

    But that futile call showed Obasanjo’s near-absolute lack of soft power: beyond his periodic mischief to pull down others.  So, a sortie to Baba Iyabo adds nothing to Obi’s political relevance, beyond the already converted.  But from the 2023 results, those converts are still painfully short.

    Oba Ladoja?  Interesting!  If tomorrow the former president prostrates full length, in glorious “idobale” before the new Olubadan, know it’s the “Seriki monafiki” in him having a ball!  The new Oba would, of course, take that, with fulsome thanks.

    Read Also: Fubara’s return: MOSIEND calls for peace, unity, inclusive governance

    Indeed, Oba Ladoja, as Olubadan, seems one of the many spectacles the Almighty appears to have kept the former president alive to see, as divine caution to anyone never to play God!  Did President Obasanjo not reduce Governor Ladoja, elected as himself, to nothing!

    The imperial president gruffly ordered Ladoja to obey his Oyo garrison commander, the late Alhaji Lamidi Adedibu — or go jump (and get drowned) in the nearby Ogunpa River —  even if that was untrammelled political corruption! 

    For that, the garrison-commander staged one of the many Obasanjo-era “simple minority” impeachments! Of course, the judiciary would throw out that nonsense and restored Governor Ladoja — the very first in Nigerian history —  though the PDP froze him from second term.

    But it’s great the Obi visits remind us all of the bare-faced recklessness of Obasanjo’s PDP, in this day of political revisionists.  Obi too was governor then, though under APGA.  But after his Anambra tenure, it was to this same seedy PDP that Obi ran, to run for Vice President.

    So next time Obi starts his old wives’ tale that he is new, and different from the class he has striven so hard to discredit, just point to this link — a priceless umbilical cord he just gifted the polity. 

    There’s certainly a limit to being clever by half!

  • Peter Obi celebrates Chimamanda on 48th birthday

    Peter Obi celebrates Chimamanda on 48th birthday

    Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi has congratulated Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie as she turns 48 on Monday.

    He paid tribute to her remarkable contributions to literature, feminism, and cultural discourse.

    Obi on X, described her as a “literary Amazon” and a beacon of inspiration for millions of people.

    He praised Adichie’s literary prowess, noting that her writings enrich global literature and uplift humanity.

    He also commended her efforts in mentoring young writers through literary workshops, encouraging them to dream boldly and think critically.

    In his heartfelt message, Obi wished Adichie continued strength, wisdom, and joy, praying that her light would shine brighter for Nigeria and the world.

    He wrote, “Chimamanda: Celebrating a Literary Amazon. Today, I gladly join the global community of letters and all people of goodwill in wishing my beloved sister, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, a very happy birthday. Her life and work remind us that when nurtured with discipline and vision, talent becomes a light for the individual and all of society.

    Read Also: My investments in schools, hospitals not politically motivated – Peter Obi

    “Chimamanda has blossomed into a true literary giant, whose writings enrich global literature while uplifting humanity. She has used her extraordinary gift to tell our stories with dignity and raise new generations of storytellers. Through her writings and literary workshops, she continues to shape young minds, encouraging them to dream boldly, think critically, and wield words as instruments of truth and transformation.

    “Her greatness is measured not merely by international acclaim, but also by the way she honours her roots. I was especially moved when she returned to her alma mater and reconnected with her teachers, even from her primary school days.

    “In that simple yet profound act, she reminded us all that the journey forward is strongest when anchored in gratitude to the past—when we acknowledge those who shaped us and draw strength from the foundations that nurtured us.

    “On this special day, I celebrate her not only as my sister but also as a beacon of inspiration to millions. May God continue to strengthen her, bless her in the years ahead with wisdom and joy, and make her light shine even brighter for Nigeria and the world.”