By Jude Atupulazi
You can agree with me that the most popular or notorious man in Nigeria today is former Anambra State Governor and former Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party, Mr Peter Obi. His popularity or notoriety depends on who or what you are. For the long suffering Nigerian masses and people of goodwill, Obi is a very popular man, their beloved, as well as their last hope of redemption.
For the larger political class, Obi is notoriously bad, a nightmare and a stumbling block to their continued despoiling of our commonwealth. It is this last group of people that this piece is intended for. I want to give them an expo of how to stop Obi from menacing them, from giving them sleepless nights, and from giving them heart attacks.
Indeed, no week passes without Obi being in the news. If the masses are not hailing him for giving out to educational and health institutions or for giving succour to the needy; like those in Internally Displaced People’s Camps, IDPs, they are purring with happiness at his display of simplicity like serving food to guests at events, or for mixing freely with all manner of people, including artisans and roadside mechanics. He is easily the most discussed politician today by friends and foes alike.
In fact, after the last Presidential Elections in the country, the expectation in some quarters was that the popularity he garnered then would wane by the time of the next elections. But as the 2027 Elections approach, if anything, Obi’s popularity continues to soar. And this is bad news to his detractors who must be scratching their heads about how a man, renowned for his ”stinginess” is pulling more weight against those who throw cash about in a country where hunger has made many to lose their sense of decency and grovel for crumbs that fall from the tables of their thieving leaders.
Obi’s persona is no doubt a great source of bother to such people. It has drawn such dangerous sentiments as envy, anger or outright hatred. Yet, the Obi blitz continues to sweep across the nation beyond ethnic and religious divides. On the day he marked his 64th birthday, many Nigerians on their own decided to celebrate him in many ways.
Some gave alms to the poor, others swept the streets, while some visited orphanages. There were those who did roadwork, carrying banners with his pictures and dancing. All this happened without Obi giving them shishi (money), as Obi himself affirmed when the question was put to him during his visit to his alma mater, Christ the King College, CKC, Onitsha, Anambra State, recently.
Such acts by Nigerians were the first time such would be done for any Nigerian politician. It baffled Obi’s detractors. In Kaduna, the Governor of the state banned anyone from celebrating Obi’s birthday publicly after he got wind of plans to celebrate him.
These were coming in the wake of a very stupid pronouncement by the puppet Governor of Edo State, Monday Okpebholo, who decreed that Obi should desist from coming to his state without his (Governor’s) express permission. Obi’s crime? He had come to Edo to donate N15m to an educational institution! Of course, this had drawn the ire of many Nigerians who fought on Obi’s behalf and lambasted the Edo State Governor.
While reacting to this development later, Obi would say that no one could stop him from entering any state in Nigeria, and vowed to return to Edo State if need be. For a man who is not in power and who does not spray the cash, his philosophy certainly needs to be studied in higher institutions as a course.
And while Obi continues to scare the pants off these leaders and politicians, it is surprising that they have not found the secret to stopping him. You see, in a country ravaged by hunger and bad leadership, corruption and greed, the traumatized masses have been in search of someone that holds out hope for them for a better Nigeria, a Nigeria that would transform their pains to joy, no matter how little. That is why they have taken to Obi like ducks to water.
It is not that Obi is a saint, no. he is as human as anyone next door. But he has chosen to play his politics in a different way. Whereas his contemporaries distance themselves from the people, Obi goes to them, eats with them, serves them food, gives them succour and freely poses for pictures with them anywhere at all without an iota of fear of being harmed.
When Obi does this, you will not see any fierce looking, gun-toting security men around him. The few attached to him always keep their distance, while they probably wonder the kind of man they have been detailed to protect.
Whereas other politicians and leaders will be surrounded by security personnel who won’t allow anyone to come near, Obi is easily accessible; the reason why you will always see people milling around him to take pictures.
Whereas Obi’s contemporaries move about in long convoys, with heavy protection; including armoured vehicles in some cases, you will not notice Obi when he passes by or arrives at an event. This is because his convoy is so small, even smaller than the convoys of some people who call themselves big boys.
You only get to see him when he alights from his car and shouts of ”Obi! Obi!! erupt all around. It is obviously beginning to embarrass Obi in some cases as such shouts tend to disrupt proceedings at the event.
A case in point was the day current Anambra Governor, Prof Chukwuma Soludo, celebrated the anniversary of the state at the International Convention Centre, Awka. When Obi came in and saw the event was on and that Soludo was speaking, he had sat at the back but an usher came and asked him to come up to where his seat was reserved.
But while going, the crowd saw him and the now famous Obi chant erupted, drowning what Soludo was saying. He was forced to pause until Obi had taken his seat. You can imagine how embarrassed Obi must have been after he had tried to quietly sneak in.
Now, if you are still waiting for me to give you the expo, it means you have not been paying attention as I have given it already. All these things I have mentioned that make Obi popular are what those who hate or envy him should be doing. But above all, the leaders must give good, honest leadership.
Yes, it is the hardship in the country today, more than anything, that has thrown up a Peter Obi, because the people want a change. If things were going well and everybody was happy; if the woman selling akara (bean cake) is plying her trade comfortably without being chased about by uniformed touts; if the average Nigerian can afford three square meals a day, maintain his family and train their children, for sure, Nigerians would not be in search of a messiah.
So, as leaders or politicians, do the above and you will become as popular as Obi and the Obi Myth will slowly die down. But continue to plunder the nation’s resources, continue being nepotistic and tribalistic, then the Obi persona will continue to haunt you and give you sleepless nights.
Football is the game; Chelsea, the name
Oh yes, I cannot keep writing without going back to the event of the night of July 13. It was the night a football earthquake occurred. It was the final of the Club World Cup (CWC) between the almighty Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and Chelsea Football Club of London. Prior to the final, PSG had destroyed all opposition, scoring for fun and conceding only one goal.
They had also played very big teams on the way to the final and they include, Atletico Madrid, 4-0; Bayern Munich, 2-0, with nine men; Real Madrid, 4-0. They looked unstoppable and indeed were so; at least before the final. They were also coming off the back of winning the European Champions League, smashing Inter Milan 5-0 in a one-sided final.
While Chelsea had won the Conference League, beating Real Betis 4-1 in the final, that competition was seen as third rate. In the CWC Chelsea were winning but not on the scale of PSG. Thus, every pundit conceded that PSG would not just win, but win well.
However, at the end of that final match, the shocking result stared everyone in the face: Chelsea 3, PSG 0! Even Chelsea fans could not believe that score line, including me, an ardent Chelsea fan. This was because I had written off Chelsea prior to that final.
It was a huge celebration by Chelsea fans where we watched it at Stamford Hotel. The viewing place was packed to the roofs by boys and men. Class did not matter. Many were standing as every seat had been taken up. Not for me though, as I had come early to secure a seat in my favourite position. In the end, my team did not disappoint me and we transformed to the champions of the world.
Consequently, on our jersey will be emblazoned, ”World Champions”, for the next four years, whether our enemies like it or not (lol). I have suggested that all Chelsea fans should be addressed as WC, meaning ”World Champions”! Thus, anytime you see us and call our names, just add, ”WC”, at the back as is done to those with Justice of the Peace title; e.g., Jude Atupulazi (WC). I hope my friend, Fr Onyebuchi of Man United is reading this.
As they say, ”we win, be say we don win”, and this is yet another trophy in the bag. Up Chelsea!!!
