Peter Obi has resigned from the People’s Democratic Party, citing recent development within the party which makes it practically impossible for him to “continue participating and making such constructive contributions”.

Obi already knows that the system is rigged against him, that the PDP serves only the super-rich outlandishly corrupt aspirants, and that the 2023 presidential elections on the platform of the PDP is a lost cause. Though he was arguably the best candidate among PDP’s Presidential hopefuls, yet pigs would fly before he could win the party’s ticket due to the murky water of the Nigerian politics where competence is sacrificed on the altar of nepotism, tribalism and cash and carry moneybag politics.

Nigeria’s politics is tough, treacherous and unpredictable. An outstanding and charismatic candidate like Obi does not often win elections, irrespective of his noble plans and laudable vision. The system is rigged against him no matter his good intention. To beat the system to its own game, he has to not only be politically savvy but also make compromises.

The bitter truth is that Obi never stood any chance at the PDP’s Presidential primary. It was a lost cause. Had he remained in the PDP, his best bet would have been to align with Saraki. Don’t hold your breath: it would be a cold day in hell before Saraki would agree to work for Obi. Saraki is an egotistical morally bankrupted corrupt Nigerian politician. He would never align with Obi.

You’d be as likely to catch lightning in a bottle as to believe Atiku would pitch tent with Obi and work for him. The Waziri of Adamawa has been coveting the number one position since 2003. He has hitherto contested all presidential elections since then, and he might be going into this one knowing fully well this is his last chance saloon.

So barring any eleventh hour politicking and gerrymandering, Obi’s was highly likely going to come third (or even fourth) in the PDP’s presidential primary. He knew this, that was why he left the party.

Yuval Noah Harari in his book 21 Lessons of the 21st Century pointed out that elections are always about human feelings, not about human rationality. If Nigeria’s elections were a matter of rational decision-making, there would be absolutely no reason to give all people equal voting rights – or perhaps any voting rights. There is ample evidence that some Nigerians are far more knowledgeable and rational than others, certainly when it comes to specific economic and political questions.

The vast majority of politically conscious Nigerians are on social media platforms, especially Twitter. And that is why all elections on Twitter and virtually all online polls were won by Peter Obi. If and only if Nigerian presidential election were conducted online, Peter Obi would have seamlessly won. Unfortunately, for better or worse, elections are not won online, they are won at polling units where the electorates cast their votes for the candidate of their choice.

Many of these “online electorates” do not even have voters card to vote during election proper. So it does not matter what the “online electorates” think, elections are about what the majority of the electorates with voter’s card feel. And when it comes to feelings, visionary leaders like Peter Obi and Kingsley Moghalu are no better than the cobbler in the street of Kano nor the aboki that sells suya meat at a joint in Gwagwalada. This is because democracy assumes that human feelings reflect a mysterious and profound ‘free will’, that this ‘free will’ is the ultimate source of authority, and that while some people are more intelligent than others, all humans are equally free.

So like Obi and Moghalu, an illiterate cobbler and an aboki masuya also have free will, hence on election day their feelings – represented by their votes – count just as much as anybody else’s. These feelings guide not just the voters, but also the leaders.

As Doyin Okupe rightly pointed out, money in most cases may be the ultimate deciding factor. Our leaders know this and that is why in their foolish wisdom, they weaponised poverty. And Nigeria being the poverty capital of the universe is susceptible to money politics. The highest vote buyer often wins.

So without money or with an offer considerably much lower than the leading contender financially, the poorer (or circumspect in the case of Obi) aspirants irrespective of pedigree, competence or suitability, may have no chance of winning at all.

Money together with ethnicity and religious beliefs determines where the pendulum swings. Hence, the vast majority of the Nigerian electorates are devoid of conscience, rational thinking, patriotism or the principle of right or wrong. Conscious right thinking patriotic candidates like Obi barely stand a chance because the electorates vote along ethnic and religious lines, aided by pecuniary motive. The votes they cast do not often reflect their personal convictions.

With Obi’s exit, the PDP is doomed. Obi was their rallying point; neutrals and noncommittal electorates believed in him. His economy acumen and corruption-free tag made him endearing. His plans and vision brought a glimmer of hope to Nigeria and made the PDP a force to reckon with in the presidential poll if he had emerged as the party's flag bearer.

However, his exit from the PDP has now dimmed that hope and nuked that prospect. Hopefully he decamps to another party before it is too late because if he fails to contest for the presidency in 2023, the future is grim for Nigeria.

Ikem Mba�

My brothers and sisters we lost a legend Ray liotta. Actor of 'Goodfellas'.....I use his meme a lot. Rip

Stop pastoring nonsense.

He should be first of all politically stable,except if he wanted to stage a coup or come through terrorism.

Millions of Nigerians,maybe your father is included,may rule Nigeria perfeclty but we are talking about them because they are politically weak.

Must he contest or is he the only Nigerian that felt could lead but might not win?

Look!,in your home,school or in office,there is a person that can lead Nigeria but may not win election,and it is norm. This is the theory of life.

Stop emotions,and hug reality. You can't change the law of nature.

There are several way to get power. Coup,riot,election,birth etc...and we chose election.

Meaning that,you have to be politically capable,then we will se if you are much capable in governance than others.

Even in coup,the smart and fearless are favoured...so in election,popularity,structure,roots,smartness,fearlessness etc is needed.

Obi lost it. That's all.

Khaleepha5681:
Stop pastoring nonsense.

He should be first of all politically stable,except if he wanted to stage a coup or come through terrorism.

Millions of Nigerians,maybe your father is included,may rule Nigeria perfeclty but we are talking about them because they are politically weak.

Must he contest or is he the only Nigerian that felt could lead but might not win?

Look!,in your home,school or in office,there is a person that can lead Nigeria but may not win election,and it is norm. This is the theory of life.

Stop emotions,and hug reality. You can't change the law of nature.

There are several way to get power. Coup,riot,election,birth etc...and we chose election.

Meaning that,you have to be politically capable,then we will se if you are much capable in governance than others.

Even in coup,the smart and fearless are favoured...so in election,popularity,structure,roots,smartness,fearlessness etc is needed.

Obi lost it. That's all.

So how did failure Buhari win?

Khaleepha5681:
Stop pastoring nonsense.

He should be first of all politically stable,except if he wanted to stage a coup or come through terrorism.

Millions of Nigerians,maybe your father is included,may rule Nigeria perfeclty but we are talking about them because they are politically weak.

Must he contest or is he the only Nigerian that felt could lead but might not win?

Look!,in your home,school or in office,there is a person that can lead Nigeria but may not win election,and it is norm. This is the theory of life.

Stop emotions,and hug reality. You can't change the law of nature.

There are several way to get power. Coup,riot,election,birth etc...and we chose election.

Meaning that,you have to be politically capable,then we will se if you are much capable in governance than others.

Even in coup,the smart and fearless are favoured...so in election,popularity,structure,roots,smartness,fearlessness etc is needed.

Obi lost it. That's all.

So how did failure Buhari win?

Prudence and integrity are not enough to make a person a good leader. I dont see peter obi as a man of reliable character. He left PDP to contest for Governorship election and won under APGA as two terms Governor.
Immediately after his tenure, he abandoned the party that gave him the opportunity to became Governor and rejoined PDP. How do we classified this kind of a person and politician?

Khaleepha5681:
Stop pastoring nonsense.

He should be first of all politically stable,except if he wanted to stage a coup or come through terrorism.

Millions of Nigerians,maybe your father is included,may rule Nigeria perfeclty but we are talking about them because they are politically weak.

Must he contest or is he the only Nigerian that felt could lead but might not win?

Look!,in your home,school or in office,there is a person that can lead Nigeria but may not win election,and it is norm. This is the theory of life.

Stop emotions,and hug reality. You can't change the law of nature.

There are several way to get power. Coup,riot,election,birth etc...and we chose election.

Meaning that,you have to be politically capable,then we will se if you are much capable in governance than others.

Even in coup,the smart and fearless are favoured...so in election,popularity,structure,roots,smartness,fearlessness etc is needed.

Obi lost it. That's all.

Walahi you talk sense, he didn't want to try and fail, which is glaring he can't be the flag bearer of pdp

OBOTOTHICK:


Walahi you talk sense, he didn't want to try and fail, which is glaring he can't be the flag bearer of pdp

The truth is not hiden.