Should Peter Obi and the Labour Party worry about the tremulous and doddering government of the All Progressives Congress, APC, and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu copying his policies and programmes?
No, they shouldn’t. Those who only get inspiration from others won’t last, and worrying about them distracts from your work. These programmes should be worried about because of their inadequate grasp of these programmes, especially when they need more legitimacy, goodwill, and confidence from the public.
From September 2022 to February 2023, Nigeria’s ruling party’s presidential candidate, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, refused any media interviews, even to explain his manifesto.
He rarely appealed to Nigerians for votes. To Nigerians’ annoyance, his only message was that he would continue Muhammed Buhari’s good work.
During the campaign, he had no reaction to inquiries at the Chatham House in London, UK, and his sides had to respond for him.
Peter Obi disarmingly raised difficulties and pragmatically explained its workings, while Tinubu insulted and scorned Nigerians during the campaigns. Obi offered a verified solution to every governance challenge.
Obi explained to Nigerians how he will fix the troubled power industry. He went to Egypt to examine the German corporation Seamen that solved their power problem and made Egypt a power exporter. Obi declared at the Channels TV 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 evident since his stint on the Presidential Economic Management Team under Goodluck Jonathan that he will remove petroleum product subsidies since they are organised crime but will do so without hurting the poor. He promised to show them scientifically and empirically what was generated and how it was used. Obi called the country’s gasoline consumption figure 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 stakeholders to admit to the scam.
The Labour Party’s leader also stressed the importance of education and health to a nation’s development.
Obi’s sector-by-sector explanations won over Nigerians. Obi essentially dominated the platform as a solo contender with a mission while the ruling party flag bearer remained conspicuously absent, presumably planning the abracadabra of February 25, 2023, the worst day in our democratic journey.
After his swearing-in on May 29, Tinubu has said 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 work.
Today, 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’s not Panadol like other imitations. He is stealing the mandate and programmes to undermine Obi and win over Obedient supporters. He administers the nation alone. Obi’s oil theft revelations prompted Tinubu’s first Service Chiefs meeting.
Political observers are watching Tinubu’s hurry to implement Obi’s programmes from several angles: to dazzle the public and gain their trust, preparing for an election in case the electoral tribunal nullifies the election and he is lucky to be on the ballot if not disqualified; racing to distance himself from Buhari to win the people, therefore the suspension and detention of Central Bank Governor Godwin Emefiele, Buhari’s man Friday.
Tinubu’s copycatting shows him to be envious of Obi and trying to gain his people.
APC and Tinubu may need to learn that copycats rarely succeed. Tinubu’s gains will only last for a while.
Should Obi and the Labour Party worry about this premeditated attempt to steal their ideas and weaken them? Sure, they should worry about the shameless imitation, but they should be confident that the heart of his work cannot be copied and that Nigerians want it. People want Obi, not an impersonator.
Mimicking or impersonating won’t fix Tinubu and APC’s tarnished mandate. A thief’s charitable donations don’t negate his crime. Let’s wait for God’s time—the people’s time—because Obi is coming, and a new Nigeria is possible. Help us.
