A Critique of Peter Obi’s Political Opportunism and Prodigality

By Nnaoke Ufere, PhD

Mr. Peter Obi is making a return to the PDP under the guise of a “merger,” a deceptive term that masks what is essentially a party switch, if he can pull it off. The splintered Labour Party he led in 2023 holds no leverage for an equal merger. 

Key LP leaders interviewed for this article view Obi’s move as a personal political survival tactic rather than an official party-to-party merger. They emphasize that Obi does not have the authority to represent the LP in such negotiations.

With his announcement about potentially rejoining the PDP, Obi has shown that he is not the change he led Nigerians to believe in. Instead, he is part of the very quagmire of unprincipled, self-centered, transactional politics he once convincingly claimed to oppose.

Moreover, many Nigerians recognize his move as political opportunism and prostitution, which have long been cornerstones of political corruption in the country.

This approach has negatively impacted the nation’s democracy, where frequent party-hopping by politicians like Obi and Tinubu reveals a lack of ideological conviction and accountability to the Nigerian people.

Honesty, integrity, conviction, and a belief in something higher than one’s political ambition are essential for maintaining voter trust, a key aspect of moral leadership and accountable democracy.

These values are crucial for consistent policymaking and achieving lasting impact. Politicians who lack these qualities struggle with credibility, effectiveness, and voter support, regardless of their party affiliation. Tinubu is a recent example of this.

This development suggests that Obi’s much-touted ‘new politics’ was merely a façade, a deception. Such a maneuver will feel like a betrayal to the over 6 million Nigerians who voted for him, believing in his promise of a different political approach, free from the usual machinations, corruption, and selfish ambition that characterized his opponents in the 2023 presidential election.

Since his defeat (a loss he attributes to election fraud) as a candidate of the Labour Party, there existed a perception that he will compromise his dignity and integrity as Nigerian politicians do, assuming he possessed these qualities, in his selfish pursuit of the presidency. This perception could now be turning into a reality. 

It’s no wonder, then, that once he failed to secure the presidency, he neglected the organization of the Labour Party, allowing it to splinter. Many have questioned how he could run a country if he couldn’t even lead a party. The truth is, he was never genuinely interested in the Labour Party. Critics agree that Obi used the party for his presidential bid and abandoned it when he couldn’t win.

Has Obi Dug His Political Grave?

Obi’s primary political appeal, and the reason many voters were drawn to him, stemmed from his claim of being distinct from Tinubu and Atiku and their corrupt political ideologies. His loyal followers, known as Obidients, were passionately anti-PDP and anti-APC. This distinction was his only competitive advantage. Without it, he loses his appeal and value to voters.

An angry and disgusted Obidient, Mr. Obinna Chukwu, a public relations professional in Abuja, voiced the prevailing sentiment among many Obidients we interviewed: “The mere fact that Mr. Peter Obi is even considering this disastrous move indicates dishonesty.

He has betrayed me; I can’t trust him anymore and will not vote for him, regardless of which party he joins. I’m deeply hurt.”

By taking this self-centered turn, Obi marks a significant decline in his political career. It is not the beginning of the end, but rather the end of the beginning for him politically. Who will trust him now? Who will vote for him?

Following his decision, there’s a growing sentiment among Nigerians questioning who can still trust a man who, driven by blind ambition, seemingly abandoned his “Obidient” followers, leaving them in a precarious position of disillusionment.

With this monumental mistake, the trust he once enjoyed, notably from the youth and professionals who voted for him, will be irretrievably lost. Without his base, practically, he has dug his political grave.

This self-defeating move will significantly damage his political reputation and estrange the supporters who were once inspired by his promise of change and reform. Only an unwise parasite destroys its host.

Furthermore, Obi rejoining the PDP compromises his values and brand, potentially leading to his downfall. Atiku, whose lifelong ambition is to be president, declared that the next time will be the charm, indicating he will run again and likely sideline Obi once more. Insiders suggest that Obi is back to square one, angling for Atiku’s VP position in 2027. Amid these blunders, the real winner is likely Tinubu and the APC.

It’s no surprise that an updated online survey, conducted since the bad news broke, involving 1,850 Nigerians who identified as having voted for Obi in 2023, reveals a deep sense of betrayal and disillusionment. Many see him as reneging on his principles and thus untrustworthy.

This move certainly has raised questions about Obi’s decision-making and cast a dark shadow on his ill-fated decision to leave the PDP in the first place for the Labour Party, especially considering the PDP’s strong positioning against the APC in the last election.

It seems Obi is not as astute as some believed. He hasn’t learned from his past experiences with the PDP. The saying ‘once bitten, twice shy’ doesn’t seem to apply to him. Entering into a marriage of convenience with the PDP will lead to his exploitation for short-term gains, followed by abandonment, much like a disposable, soiled diaper.

When we alerted the public about this development in an editorial in early January, many readers commented that Obi would never rejoin the PDP under any circumstance, dismissing our foresight then. 

Now, it’s happening, and Obi’s supporters (not the pundits) are livid, shocked, confused, and disillusioned. This unexpected turn of events has left many of his followers questioning his political integrity and his political future. 

Return of The Unforgivable Prodigal Son

Like the biblical prodigal son, Peter Obi is returning to his political roots, seeking repentance, redemption, and acceptance. However, unlike the parable, Obi is unlikely to find a warm welcome, forgiveness, or redemption in PDP politics.

He seems to overlook that institutions, especially an established political party like the PDP, have long memories. They neither forget nor forgive easily. 

Many party members we spoke to view Obi’s attempted return with anger and disdain, attributing his previous departure and subsequent third-party candidacy to the party’s failure to win the presidency in the 2023 elections. They made it clear they won’t forget his perceived betrayal.

There is a consensus among the PDP kingmakers that Obi’s self-centeredness, pursuit of instant gratification, and blind ambition significantly contributed to the party’s loss in 2023.

Furthermore, the Northern power elites blame his self-importance and intransigence for contributing to Bola Tinubu’s election victory. To PDP stakeholders, Obi is a persona non grata. He is broadly and deeply loathed, having lost the trust of the party’s rank and file.

In party politics, trust is like salt; once it loses its flavor, it becomes worthless. As Matthew 5:13 instructs, “Can it be made salty again? It will be thrown out and trampled underfoot.”

Mr. Obi has lost the most vital ingredients in his political career: credibility and trust. Without these, he is politically impotent and will be marginalized within the PDP. It wouldn’t be surprising if Obi attempts a “merger” with the APC should his efforts with the PDP fail. This is what desperation looks like.

Within the PDP, Obi’s attempt to return is perceived as an act of political prodigality. His earlier decisions are viewed as having squandered the party’s opportunities and resources, denying them a sure victory against a weak candidate like Tinubu in 2023.

Therefore, Obi’s reentry is not seen as the return of a repentant son but as a manipulative move by a politician without a party, trying to regain lost ground and relevance in the PDP.

Among PDP leaders, the initial reception of Obi’s optimism about joining the party is extremely cold, reflecting the party’s internal conflicts and deep-seated resentment towards his actions during the previous electoral cycle.

Atiku’s Masterclass: Incapacitate A 2027 Third-Party Spoiler

According to insiders who spoke on condition of anonymity, Atiku’s strategy is to keep his political enemy close. Once Obi is within the fold, Atiku plans to politically and socially neutralize him by demonstrating to Obi’s supporters, and the nation at large, that he is no different from any other transactional politician in Nigeria.

Atiku’s game plan is to expose Obi as someone willing to sell out and betray his principles and supporters to preserve his selfish ambitions. He knows Obi’s desperation and vulnerabilities and plans to exploit them to the fullest.

This strategy aims to undermine Obi’s credibility and erode the trust of his followers, weakening his capacity to compete as a third-party candidate in 2027. The assumption is that without a third-party spoiler, the PDP stands a strong chance to defeat a much-discredited and weakened APC in 2027.

Following this, Obi is likely to find himself politically destitute and homeless. This is the so-called “capture and neutralize” strategy. PDP leadership will politically castrate him, marginalize him socially, and leave him without significant influence or support.

This will serve as a cautionary tale about the consequences of perceived disloyalty and shortsighted ambition. Ultimately, this move is designed to show that Obi is not as strategic or savvy as he has led his supporters to believe, further weakening his position within the national political landscape.

In conclusion, Peter Obi is in trouble. Despite his attempts to mask it, he is fighting for his political life. Contrary to his deceptive political spin claiming that his move to join the PDP is in the nation’s best interest, Obi has lost his mojo. The king has no dominion.

Returning to the PDP may not mirror the biblical tale of the prodigal son’s redemption and acceptance. Instead, it highlights the harsh realities of partisan politics, where disloyalty and prodigality have lasting consequences, and forgiveness is not easily granted.

The political journey ahead for Obi will be treacherous. It’s incredible how quickly political fortunes can turn. Obi’s fall from hero to zero is one of the fastest in Nigerian political history. If Obi is under the illusion that PDP supporters will overlook and forgive his role in their loss of the 2023 presidency, he is indeed living in a delusion.

In the months ahead, Obi’s challenge will be to navigate these treacherous waters, attempting to rebuild alliances and regain trust with his base.

However, the shadow of his past actions—mismanagement of the Labour Party and his flirtation with the PDP—will loom large, making the path to political redemption with the Obidients he has betrayed a difficult one. In all this, regardless of the final outcome, it appears Mr. Obi is the Greatest Loser of All Time (GLOAT).