International journalist and former supporter of the Obidient Movement, Donu Kogbara, has stated that the 2023 Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate, Peter Obi, is no longer meeting expectations.
Kogbara explained that while Obi inspired and garnered widespread support from Nigerians leading up to the 2023 elections, his reputation has significantly declined post-election.
In light of recent high-profile defections from the Labour Party, she described the party as a sinking ship, with politicians now fighting for their political survival.
During an interview with Arise News, Kogbara acknowledged that while Obi remains a good person, he has failed to provide the strong opposition leadership that once earned him the support of many youths and Nigerians during the election campaign.
She added that many former supporters of the Obidient Movement have since become disillusioned with Obi.
In her words, “Well, rats have always deserted sinking ships, so the Labour Party should say bye-bye to those five lawmakers. They’re entitled to do what they want if it’s within the ambit of the law, which I’m not even sure it is. But for me, the Labour Party is clearly in crisis. We had all that drama around their chairmanship and the traitor, who was on the take from outside elements.
“I just can’t bear people who lack honour. So, there was that whole crisis and then there were other things that made it difficult for Labour Party to function as a proper party. But the thing that depresses me most is not so much what the senators and House of Representatives people do; it is Peter Obi himself.
“I just don’t understand how somebody who was this sparkling inspirational figure, who created a movement almost overnight, galvanized the youths, the intellectuals, anybody who had any iota of principle in their bloodstream, at least admired him to some extent even if they weren’t necessarily going to vote for him for whatever reason, has gone from top to bottom.
“As far as I’m concerned, he’s like a firework that has turned into a damp squib. He’s become so prosperous. All I see is him making anodyne statements here and there on television, donating boreholes or whatever. It’s all good stuff. He’s still a good guy but where is the leader that the opposition needs so desperately? He’s not looking like it.”
Kogbara further stated that it’s not just Peter Obi, but the entire opposition movement in Nigeria, including Atiku Abubakar, that is failing to effectively challenge President Bola Tinubu’s government.
She also held the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, responsible for the crisis within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
However, Kogbara reserved her strongest criticism for Obi, describing him as a major disappointment. She accused him of lacking the aggression needed to hold the current government accountable for its inefficiencies and failures.
“I blame the entire opposition, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), for allowing itself to be derailed by my dear friend, Nyesom Wike. By the way, I saw him a couple of months ago and I told him that ‘if I was a PDP Mandarin, I would have tossed you out by now.’ I also blame Atiku Abubakar of spending more time as a Dubai type of big man and not effectively taking on the government.
“And I blame Peter Obi most of all because Peter was a shining star and so many people committed themselves to him emotionally, myself included. I’m not Obidient anymore, to be honest with you, because he’s such a disappointment. I mean, there’s no aggression.
“The government is lousy. And pretty much the only good thing I can think that President Bola Tinubu has done is to keep herdsmen at bay because I’ve noticed there haven’t been any herdsmen shenanigans since Tinubu came in. So, I congratulate him for that if indeed it is his doing.
“But it’s kind of like, there are so many things this government is doing wrong, contracts being awarded without due process, economic collapse, rampaging inflation, widespread hunger and disillusionment and you never hear anything seriously punchy from Peter Obi,” she submitted.
Not done with her jibes, Kogbara said Peter Obi is too mild and has disappointed many obidients by his actions. She submitted that as the star opposition leader, the former LP presidential candidate can do more.
“He’s too mild. Yes, he’s got so much but there’s so much he could go for, and he would get so much public support if he did. I’m not just speaking for myself, I’m speaking for hundreds of Obidients, ex-Obidients or current Obidients, who are disappointed. We don’t want a weak opposition leader. He’s the star of the show. Atiku and PDP should also be doing more. But really, Peter is the star opposition player and he’s not doing well enough,” she said.
