Segun Sowunmi, convener of The Alternative, Peter Obi and his supporters, often called Obidients, are among the many main obstacles to the South-East’s ambition to supply Nigeria’s president.
Sowunmi mentioned the area wanted to construct political alliances throughout the nation and scale back hostility in direction of different teams to enhance its probabilities of securing the presidency in 2027.
He made the remarks throughout an interview on the Selah Meditate Podcast, the place he mentioned the 2027 basic election and the prospects of presidential contenders.
“The biggest obstacle I see to the Igbo presidency is Peter Obi and his Obidients. Let me tell you why. Power must be negotiated,” he mentioned.
According to him, the South-East ought to pursue broader political cooperation, starting with solidarity throughout the South and lengthening to the Middle Belt and northern Nigeria.
He argued that profitable the presidency in a multi-ethnic and multicultural nation required strategic negotiations and relationships past ethnic and political boundaries.
“You can’t be asking for the presidency in a multi-ethnic, multicultural country when the level of bigotry and hatred and anger is too high,” Sowunmi mentioned.
He criticised what he described because the hostility displayed by some Obi supporters, arguing that their conduct might alienate potential political allies and reinforce damaging perceptions of the South-East.
Explaining his place, Sowunmi pointed to what he described as resentment stemming from the conduct of some Obidients.
“The quality of the irritation that his Obidients create all over,” he mentioned.
He likened political management to navy command, saying leaders had a accountability to handle their supporters and stop statements that could possibly be interpreted as tribal assaults.
“A general has significant responsibility to manage his troops,” he mentioned.
Sowunmi contrasted this with supporters of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, arguing that they may make provocative statements with out essentially making them tribal.
He additionally questioned what he described as a contradiction between the financial affect of some Igbo businesspeople and their grievances over Nigeria’s political and financial situations.
Citing their involvement in markets, retail, actual property, banking and privately owned airways, he argued that their financial pursuits ought to encourage better engagement with the nation’s political system.
Sowunmi maintained that the South-East’s presidential ambition required coalition-building and constructive political engagement past the area.
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