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Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe has argued that Nigeria’s current challenges would have been far less severe, and the country might have been on a better path, had Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s candidate in the 2023 presidential election, emerged victorious.
He suggested that Obi’s leadership could have offered the nation a different trajectory, one that might have led to more positive outcomes for the country.
Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, who represents Abia South in the Senate, asserted that nepotism, which he claims is rampant under President Bola Tinubu’s administration, would not have been a reality if Peter Obi had been elected president. He highlighted that Obi’s leadership would have actively worked to dismantle such practices and promote a more inclusive governance model.
“If Peter Obi had won, you probably would have seen a better Nigeria than what we are seeing today, Abaribe said on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Monday.
“Number one, he would not be as nepotistic as this government, he won’t, it’s not in him. That is just who we are, we feel for the other people.”
To reinforce his allegations of nepotism against President Bola Tinubu, the lawmaker pointed to the president’s appointment of four ministers from Ogun State, while several other states were limited to just a single representative.
He questioned the equity of such appointments, highlighting the disproportionate representation.Abaribe stated that although Buhari had engaged in nepotism, the situation has worsened under President Tinubu.
He noted that, during Buhari’s rule, his actions went largely unchallenged, with only Abaribe himself speaking out, allowing the problem to deepen in the current administration.
He emphasized that instead of waiting for future presidents to be fair to the South-East, it is now time for the people of the region to take matters into their own hands. He suggested that they focus on revitalizing the zone, making it more livable, prosperous, and united, thereby creating their own path to progress.
Read also: Peter Obi Hails Chidimma Adetshina As A Beacon Of Hope
Abaribe noted that apart from Obasanjo and Jonathan, no president has been fair to the people and that the people cannot continue to wait for that.
On the arrest of the self-acclaimed Prime Minister of Biafra in exile, Simon Ekpa, in Finland, Abaribe described it as a welcome development.
He said the arrest of Ekpa will signal to the people at home who are purveyors of violence and are being instigated by the Finland-based Biafra agitator that he denied being the Biafran Prime Minister after his arrest.
The Senator added that the Igbo had always condemned what Ekpa and his ilk try to direct from foreign lands.
Senator Abaribe also said that the violence in the South-East can be brought to an end when Nnamdi Kanu is released. He said that many of those perpetrating violence with Kanu’s name won’t have any reason to continue when Kanu is released.
