A former spokesperson for Peter Obi’s 2023 presidential campaign, Kenneth Okonkwo, has said the former Anambra State governor squandered a rare opportunity to become a great leader.
Okonkwo made the remark during an interview on the Selah Meditate Podcast, where he was asked to describe President Bola Tinubu, former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar and Obi in one sentence.
Speaking about Obi, Okonkwo said Nigerians were willing to support him and hand him political power without the conventional political struggle associated with securing elective office.
“Peter Obi is a man who had opportunity of being great and dashed it by himself. No system will give you egg without breaking it. You can’t make an omelet without breaking an egg,” he said.
He said Obi needed to make significant sacrifices to secure and retain the opportunity Nigerians had presented to him.
“He’s a man that God and living people would have loved to give him what he wants, but he needs to make the necessary sacrifice, no matter what it will entail, to hold onto that free gift,” Okonkwo said.
According to him, Obi’s political circumstances were unusual because Nigerians were, for the first time, prepared to give a politician power without demanding the conventional incentives associated with elections.
“For the first time in Nigeria, people are willing to give somebody power free of charge. You should be able to make every sacrifice needed, no matter what,” he added.
Okonkwo also gave contrasting assessments of Atiku and Tinubu.
He described Atiku as a benevolent and humane leader who remained determined to pursue his presidential ambition in a bid to offer Nigerians what he considered the benefits of his leadership.
“If you tell me to describe Atiku, I will say benevolent leader that doesn’t want to give up until he ensures the nation has a taste of the benevolence,” he said.
He further described the former vice-president as a “good leader” and “humane leader” who wanted to contribute to rescuing Nigeria within his lifetime.
On Tinubu, however, Okonkwo described the President as the “worst leader” Nigeria would ever have.
Okonkwo was a prominent member of Obi’s campaign ahead of the 2023 presidential election before later aligning with the opposition movement around Atiku.
Obi finished third in the 2023 presidential election behind Tinubu and Atiku and has remained a prominent opposition figure ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
Titilope Adako is a talented and intrepid journalist, dedicated to shedding light on the untold stories of Osun State and Nigeria. Through incisive reporting, she tackles a broad spectrum of topics, from politics and social justice to culture and entertainment, with a commitment to accuracy, empathy, and inspiring positive change.
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