The political transformation cum transfiguration of Mr. Peter Gregory Obi is the stripe of which epic and legendary odyssey is woven. A former governor of Anambra State on the platform of APGA, a former running mate to Alhaji Atiku Abubakar on the platform of PDP, Obi incensed by the nauseating stench of money politic s decided to pitch his tent with the not too popular Labour Party and that had changed the political narrative in Nigeria.
Obi helped by his supporters, Obidient movement, is a political sprinter spreading dust and discomfort to other presidential candidates and political parties. Instead of them to study the Obi phenomenon and come out with counter measures, they are in the mission of de-marketing a man whose hour is very near. Let The Pond News makes one point clear and crystal. This leading article is not an endorsement of the candidature of Peter Obi, rather is a testimony to the viability of plural democracy and that issues should be subject of political discourse to solve the variety of problems plaguing the nation.
Those who were not comfortable with Obi, started by saying, that Labour Party had no structures. The supporters of Obi responded by holding massive rallies in Lagos, Abuja, Kaduna, Benin City, Asaba and other major towns. The multitudes of men, women and youths in the various marches for democracy and good governance sent shivers down the spine of those opposed to Obi candidature.
The agents of de-marketing Obi also harped on the theme that Obi as a man was very stingy. It is only in Nigeria that if a man decides to be frugal with his hard earned money, it is transgression. A reverend father mentioned the frugal nature of Obi and the reactions to it was earth quaking and astonishing. Not satisfied with the frugal nature narrative, they came up with the idea that the Labour Party manifestoes were riddled with mistakes and contradictions. That ought to be the problems between the Labour Party and the electorate. The other political parties should concentrate on their manifestoes instead of swimming against the tide of Obi popularity.
The funniest one is the position of a state governor of Igbo extraction saying that Obi did not leave any investment in Anambra state as a governor. But the facts are clear that Obi as a governor did not pass any debt to his successor nor is he receiving outlandish and unexplainable pension as a former governor. The paradox of the political situation is that the more political leaders invested time in demonizing and de-marketing Obi, his popularity continues to blossom.
The Pond News does not suffer the delusion that Obi is a political saint. But what stands him out is that the presidential hopeful does not discuss personalities and other parties but what he is capable of doing for Nigerians. Those trying to bring Obi down are indeed his best campaigners for the highest office of the land. That is the irony of the de-marketing mission of Obi by the political merchants
