Peter Obi Risky Fight: Can He Stand Against The Tide

Peter Obi Risky Fight: Can He Stand Against The Tide

I first knew Peter Obi back in university, even though we were in different faculties. He hailed from a wealthy family, drove a new Peugeot, and often appeared like a typical elitist—something we mockingly referred to as “bourgeoisie.” The civil war had…READ MORE…

concluded just a few years prior, leaving visible scars on some campus buildings. The Alexandra Building, where we attended General Studies, had a damaged roof and darkened walls. Many students, including my first-year roommate, were former Biafran soldiers, while others came from extremely modest backgrounds. The emotional impact of the war was still apparent in their lives. Among this diverse group, Obi and a few other privileged students easily stood out. Since graduating in 1983, Peter Obi has accomplished a great deal: he has profited through food and drink imports, co-owned a bank, served as governor, and recently contested in the presidential election. However, what strikes me most about his journey is his evolution into Nigeria’s leading opposition figure since his election defeat eleven months ago. Can he maintain this role, and is he truly prepared for the challenges ahead? I am genuinely concerned for Mr. Obi.

Last week, Obi hosted an early morning press conference where he discussed the challenges facing the Nigerian economy, the hardships endured by the people, and his commitment to speak out on these and other governance issues. He urged President Tinubu to lower the costs of governance, suggesting that he travel by road across the country and visit a public hospital for routine medical check-ups to experience the struggles of ordinary citizens. He concluded his remarks with a somber statement: “Being in opposition in this country is incredibly tough—everything seems stacked against you. Your businesses, and everything you’re involved in, are dismantled. What I’ve faced, what my family endures—is so overwhelming that you wouldn’t believe I’m still standing and traveling across the country. I see colleagues at the airport, and I greet them, but many don’t even respond for fear of the current government seeing them talking to me.” He added, in a serious tone, “I have chosen to stand by the Nigerian people, and if this is the end for me, then so be it.”

Typically, such statements come from passionate, radical labor leaders or opposition figures fighting against authoritarian regimes. But for someone from the elite class, it is quite surprising. The elite in Nigeria have often remained indifferent to the prevailing conditions, never contemplating reform. They have solutions to every problem: for poor roads, they buy luxury cars; for unreliable electricity, they invest in generators; to avoid kidnappers on highways, they opt for air travel, and they are insulated from street troubles by police protection, who often attend to their personal needs as well. Obi has the means to do this, yet he has opted to advocate for the disadvantaged. He must be made aware of the challenges ahead—does he truly understand the potential risks? Africa has a history filled with opposition leaders, freedom fighters, and activists who faced grave dangers while standing firm in their beliefs.

In the Second Republic, Chief Obafemi Awolowo emerged as a leading opposition figure after losing presidential elections in 1979 and 1983. Alongside other presidential candidates, such as Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, Alhaji Waziri Ibrahim, Mallam Aminu Kano, and Mr. Tunji Braithwaite, they collectively created strong opposition against the Shehu Shagari administration. Shagari faced relentless criticism throughout his four years in office but commendably never resorted to unconstitutional methods against them. It was in 1985, during General Buhari’s coup that ousted Shagari, that Chief Awolowo faced harassment, with his Apapa residence being raided and his passport confiscated.

In 1993, Chief MKO Abiola, a prosperous businessman, became a formidable opposition leader after the military annulled the election he had won. Abiola fought tirelessly to reclaim his mandate, but a segment of the political elite, including his running mate Babagana Kingibe, was not prepared for the struggle. For a deeper understanding of the challenges of opposition, I recommend “The Struggle for June 12” by Frank Kokori. Tragically, Abiola lost his life in this fight. In the Fourth Republic, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, another affluent businessman, emerged as a prominent opposition figure, initially leading one of the opposition parties. In January 2012, he organized major protests in Lagos and other Southwestern states against President Goodluck Jonathan’s decision to remove fuel subsidies. Following the protests, Jonathan retracted his decision, but Tinubu continued to criticize him vigorously until he lost the presidential election three years later. Interestingly, Jonathan never ordered Tinubu’s arrest or sought to harm him. Is it now poetic justice that another segment of the country is rising against Tinubu’s significant policy reforms?

Throughout President Buhari’s eight years, there was no clear opposition leader. Atiku Abubakar, who was expected to fulfill this role, withdrew into seclusion in Dubai soon after the 2015 elections. Thus, Obi’s emergence as the new opposition leader is effectively filling the void left by Atiku. However, will the Tinubu administration be tolerant and accommodating? Although Obi has hinted at the adverse effects on his businesses and family, he must realize that the path ahead may be fraught with difficulties. Being in opposition in a region plagued by human rights violations is far from easy. Kenyan opposition figure Raila Amolo Odinga faced a six-year detention under President Arap Moi in 1982. In Zimbabwe, Morgan Tsvangirai suffered frequent beatings under Robert Mugabe’s regime, nearly losing his eye in the process. In South Africa, Julius Malema has been charged with hate speech and expelled from the ANC. Kizza Besigye of Uganda has endured significant torture at the hands of President Yoweri Museveni, facing numerous house arrests and charges of treason.

As Peter Obi embarks on this new chapter in his life, I wish for his safety and well-being, hoping that, unlike Awolowo, Azikiwe, Kano, Waziri, and MKO Abiola, he will live to see a Nigeria that reflects his dreams.

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