When Peter Gregory Obi was impeached as Governor of Anambra State in November 2006, his political adversaries, who used the State House of Assembly, heaved a sigh of relief, that they had gotten rid of a man who brought unusual, but progressive leadership style into governance.
Obi sought redress in court and the impeachment was overturned, making it possible for him to serve two terms as Governor between March 2006 and March 2014.
For a long time now, Alltimepost.com has watched, with keen interest, the activities of the numerous actors in Nigeria’s political terrain, especially as the nation prepares for general elections in February 2023.
In view of the multifarious problems confronting the nation, including massive corruption, abject poverty, hunger, marginalization, insecurity, agitation for self-determination, armed banditry and terrorism, there has never been a time like this when much is undeniably at stake.
So, we sat down to determine who should be our man of the year 2022. While doing that, we examined presidential aspirants of the various political parties, focusing on something unique in terms of certain impacts from their emergence.
Consequently, Peter Obi, who reincarnated through a relatively unknown Labour Party and became a political phenomenon, with his emergence in a crowded presidential field, was chosen as our “Man of The Year” 2022.
The man, Peter Obi
On May 24, 2022, Peter Gregory Obi, who had pursued frantically, his interest to contest the presidential primaries of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) with the highest level of commitment, suddenly announced his exit from the party to the Labour Party (LP).
Many political pundits were surprised about the sudden political turn around. Why did he dump the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)?
Peter Obi dumped the PDP because the pathway to transparent, open, free and fair 2022 presidential primaries was corrupted and laden with brick walls by those who were ready to hijack and monetize the supposedly democratic process.
For other candidates, it was not only because of Northern sentiments, but by their ability to part with the highest number of currencies, to party leaders and delegates to secure the ticket.
It is pathetic to recollect that, because the PDP sold its presidential ticket to the highest bidder, the spark of national quest for the candidacy of Peter Obi was thunderously ignited. That is the plain truth that some people are yet to accept.
Following his exit from the Peoples Democratic Party, Obi shocked the world in his response to questions regarding his decision to leave the party where he was well entrenched:
“I came into a system and I was part of the PDP for a long time. Nobody can question my loyalty and when I left, I left in a decent manner. I am not desperate to be President; I just want to see the country work.
“I move to a party where their processes align with my principles. I would rather lose doing the right thing than win doing the wrong thing. I was the first Nigerian to win a political case and weather an impeachment; I didn’t quarrel but sought recourse at the courts. This is why there are staggered elections in Nigeria.”
However, it must quickly be noted that the name Peter Obi carries some baggage as he has been accused by some critics of not being a “saint” in the Nigerian political firmament.
For instance, the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists, that came up with the famous Pandora Papers allegedly linked Peter Obi to some hidden foreign business activities.
Obi was also alleged to have violated some provisions of the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act, for his non-disclosure of his foreign companies, which he tucked away in offshore secret accounts as a public servant in Nigeria.
What of his alleged operation of a foreign bank account as a public servant in Anambra State?
He was also accused of being a board member of a family business while he was Governor of Anambra State, though he had to resign later.
What of the accusation of being a desperate presidential candidate, when he went to promote his candidacy in Rivers State in 2022, where he cleverly neglected the governorship candidate of the Labour Party in that State?
He has been blasted as not compatible with Labour ideology, that he is simply using the Party as a vehicle to actualize his presidential ambition. Peter Obi has been frequently accused of misrepresentation of facts, etc.
In choosing Peter Obi as Alltimepost.com “Man of the Year,” the following points were duly considered:
Unlike other conservative presidential candidates running for the 2023 presidential election, he is being massively marketed by the people of Nigeria.
Peter Obi is a consensus reached by most of the people of Nigeria, via careful observation and assessment of his person and personality vis-a-vis the saddening state of the country.
It is often said that most political and social movements without adequate organizational structures run the danger of sense of realism, and end up as a bubble, but in Peter Obi the Obidient Movement is setting up cells in every nook and cranny in the country, even independent of the Labour Party (LP); they are leaving no stone unturned in this nationalistic venture.
Obi is becoming like a political earthquake opening huge support bases, even across the frontiers of Nigeria; a devastating blow to the conservative politicking; a rattling political saber puzzling his opponents with his deafening popularity.
As some shallow minded critics and cynics are trying to tag him more like a working paper tiger, he appears, indeed, to be the very definition of a real political deal poised to retake Nigeria for Nigerians.
He is quick witted, with thorough knowledge of discernment and exhibition of persuasive instinct.
To most Nigerians, he is a veritable vehicle for the actualization of southern presidency; anyone else is seen as counterproductive.
Born on July 19, 1961, in Onitsha, Eastern Nigeria, Peter Obi attended Christ The King College, (CKC) Onitsha. He read philosophy at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka.
Early in life, he went into business and became a very successful businessman, with his net worth in the billions.
His penchant for educational glories drove him to identify and seek further knowledge in reputable citadel of learning like the Lagos Business School, Harvard Business School, London School of Economics, Cambridge University, Colombia Business School, New York, etc.
Peter Obi is a proud member of many prestigious professional bodies, including Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG), Nigerian Chattered Institute of Bankers etc. He is a former chairman of several Banks.
Having conquered the world of business, the field of politics became an enchanting aroma for a man who had exhibited rare traits in philanthropic gestures.
The Presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) was Governor of Anambra State from 2006 to 2014, where his sterling qualities as a visionary administrator became a pragmatic reality.
Obi was the first Governor to reclaim his stolen mandate in Nigeria, and the first Governor to challenge his wrongful impeachment.
Obi is the first serving Governor to be appointed a member of the Presidential Economic Team. He was a Governor whose political party (then APGA) was in government in only one state in the federation.
Peter Obi’s administration saw Anambra State become an oil producing state; and as a sitting Governor, he pioneered the first poverty mapping in Nigeria.
He is a specimen of thoroughbred progressive politician; really distinguished among his peers; a symbol of Nigerian brand in terms of audacity and maturity in political leadership.
Peter Obi’s phenomenal rise in political statue from the ashes of obstacles, such that confronted him during the party primary within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in April 2022, is a testimony to the fact that he represents a quintessence of democratic leadership.
Unlike other conservative politicians, Obi does not enjoy any gratuity, pensions, houses, cars, allowances, or maintenance of any kind from his state; no personal assistant or domestic staff is paid to serve him by Anambra state.
Peter Obi is saying that good governance and another Nigeria is possible, from this present stark tale of tragedy, wanton neglect and incredible injustice permeating the country.
There is no doubt that by their actions, patriotic Nigerians are embracing the rising new wave of nationalism on the political horizon in the belief that political leadership must no longer be about tribal superiority or religious manipulations, individual longevity, or level of elite connections.
There is also no doubt that endemic panic is visible within the ranks of the conservatives today, because Obi has secured access to the forgotten multitudes in Nigeria, even as he is the most insistent and authoritative voice speaking in favor of people united in democratic governance.
We also believe, contrary to the beliefs of certain people that picking Obi as the man of the year is more than populist argument.
Peter Obi has become an incomparable and incalculable watershed in the political history of Nigeria, given the fact that over the years the conservative political parties in that country, have transformed themselves into dangerous and vicious monsters, trampling on the democratic rights of Nigerian voters by perpetually plundering their collective patrimony and exploiting the nation’s democratic space.
In Peter Obi, we see a profound national character that defines democracy; a nationalistic moving train that is smashing to pieces all known religious, ethnic and tribal sentiments.
In Peter Obi’s candidacy, we see the drive for fairness, inclusiveness, equity, justice and people-driven transformative agenda.
