Should Peter Obi and the Labour Party worry about the tremulous and doddering All Progressives Congress (APC) and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s apparent copycatting of his ideas and programmes? No, they shouldn’t. Those who only draw inspiration from others won’t last, and worrying about them takes away from your job.
Due to a lack of knowledge, these programmes should be confused. This is especially true if the individual needs more legitimacy, goodwill, and public confidence.
From September 2022 until February 2023, Nigeria’s governing party’s presidential candidate, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, refused any media interviews, even to explain his manifesto. He seldom appealed to Nigerians for votes.
To Nigerians’ annoyance, his sole message was that he will continue Muhammadu Buhari’s excellent job. During the campaign, he couldn’t answer questions at the Chatham House in London, so his aides had to.
Peter Obi’s disarming speeches raised difficulties and pragmatically explained its workings, whereas Tinubu ignored Nigerians throughout the campaigns. Obi solved problems in every sphere of government. Obi explained to Nigerians how he will fix the troubled electricity industry.
He travelled to Egypt to investigate the German corporation Seamen that solved their power problem and made Egypt an exporter of electricity. Obi declared at the ChannelsTV Presidential debate, which Tinubu skipped, that if South Africa, with a population of less than 60 million, can generate 58, 095 and declare an emergency on power, Nigeria, with over 200 million people and generating below 5000, should declare war on power if he is elected.
Obi has been clear from his stint on the Presidential Economic Management Team under Goodluck Jonathan that he would abolish petroleum product subsidies since they are organised crime but will do so without hurting the poor.
He promised to show them scientifically and experimentally what was created and how it was used. Obi called the country’s gasoline usage number ridiculous.
Obi was ruthless on what he would do if elected to stop crude oil theft, exposing it as another government-organised crime. Obi’s explanation prompted the Nigerian Navy and other key parties to admit to the scam.
According to the LP’s candidate, education and health are crucial to a nation’s progress. Obi won over Nigerians with his sector-by-sector explanations of his objectives.
Obi essentially dominated the platform as a solo contender with a purpose while the governing party flag bearer remained conspicuously absent, presumably plotting the abracadabra of February 25, 2023, the worst day in our democratic journey.
After his swearing-in on May 29, Tinubu has spoken nothing and pledged nothing, even dancing at a massive gathering in Kano and leaving without saying a word.
His main commitment to Nigerians was to continue Buhari’s outstanding job. Now, he is rushing to duplicate all of Obi’s promises, which Nigerians voted for in droves.
Tinubu imitated Obi in subsidy elimination and education, but it wasn’t Panadol like other imitations. He is lifting the mandate and programmes to weaken Obi and win over Obedient followers.
He administers the nation alone. Tinubu’s first meeting with service chiefs addressed Obi’s oil theft revelations.
