Hardly a week goes by without Peter Obi, the Labour Party (LP) candidate for the 2023 election, finding his way into the top 10 trends in the Nigerian space of the microblogging site, Twitter. The #OBIdient movement, as his supporters like to be identified, is here and is for real. Rivaling the two political behemoths, the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and its main rival, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the LP has taken its place as the undisputed Third Force in the coming election and would definitely be a game changer in the eventual election outcome.

While most supporters of the Anambra businessman and two-term governor of the state are quick to draw similarities between his fast-growing fan base and the #EndSARS movement, it is important that his supporters are made to appreciate that salient dissimilarities abound between the protests and their campaign to have Obi installed as Nigeria’s next president.

Although this might not be what they wish to hear at the present, especially going by the vitriol with which some of them attack netizens who entertain different ideas, the fact remains that such information would serve them well in the long term as it would better equip them for emerging victorious in the battles ahead.

The first point of note would be that, unlike the protests that called for the immediate disbandment of the notorious Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) unit, which was akin to a sprint race – lasting for barely 3 weeks, the race to the 2023 presidential election is a marathon. The burst of raw energy a sprinter needs to win his race is different from the stamina the quarter-miler must possess to lead the pack after running for several kilometers. Supporters of Peter Obi must therefore understand that it would be to their greater advantage if they spew less vitriol and waste such excessive emotion, but instead be more calculated and strategic about garnering more support for their preferred candidate.

Secondly, it must be emphasized that, as is widely accepted in life, it is easier to destroy than to build; destructive actions can afford to be impulsive and spontaneous. On the other hand, generating the amount of followership that can upturn the expectations of both the APC and the PDP would need very constructive and deliberate moves, which are inherently more difficult to achieve.

A popular blogger, Yomi Black drew the angst of the #OBIdient crowd when he tweeted about some of these issues. The entry point for the #EndSARS movement did not need any pass, but to make your #OBIdience count, you must possess your PVC, Permanent Voter’s Card. As much as the electoral umpire, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has attempted to streamline the process of obtaining a voter’s card, we know it can still be very daunting. Obi’s supporters must therefore be ready to take their loyalty beyond social media and put in the sacrifice to eventually cast their ballot on the day of the election. They must be ready to walk their talk.

Next point we will consider is that the #EndSARS movement did not have any individual that was the symbol of the cause. As original and refreshing as a Peter Obi candidacy may be, not only is he human, but he is also a politician. It should be anticipated that in his quest to become the leader of the biggest black nation on planet Earth, he would err and make some missteps. I hope that if and when this happens, the #OBIdient pack would cut him some slack as against becoming fickle-minded and abandoning the whole process.

Several sociopolitical analysts have concluded that one of the catalysts that sparked the #EndSARS protests was the COVID19 lockdown. In the aftermath of pandemic disruptions, unrest and protests for varying causes had become rampant globally. Like millions of people around the world, Nigerian youths were looking for an avenue to vent their anger and frustration; the wanton extra-judicial killings by rogue SARS officers provided the perfect outlet. This is worth considering so that supporters of Peter Obi would realize that the task before them is more arduous and of a more complex nature than #EndSARS. While it may be argued that the youths are equally or even more frustrated with corrupt politicians and the wasteful governance they have inflicted on the nation, there is no unprecedented situation like being holed up indoors that would serve as the tinder to ignite the fire that would overwhelm an obsolete, obtrusive and most oppressive order.

To drive home the gargantuan nature of the project that is before Peter Obi’s supporters, let us look at the numbers. In 2019, 27,324,583 was the total number of valid votes for the presidential election. The winner, Muhammadu Buhari, polled over 15 million (55.5%) votes while the first runner up, the PDP candidate for the 2023 election, Abubakar Atiku mustered about 11 million (41.2%) votes. All the other parties that went to the ballot were only able to account for 3.3% of votes. With the total number of registered voters standing at 82,344,107, only 35% turned up for the election. Voter apathy has always been a thing in Nigerian elections.

From the INEC demographics, the most active voting population ranges from ages 18 – 35 (51.1%) and 36 – 50 (30%). Fortunately for the #OBIdient movement, this demographic is also the most active on social media where their candidate is widely popular. So even after putting into consideration the percentage of habitual voters, those that vote along ethnic and party lines, if Peter Obi’s supporters can wake up even half of the docile 65% (over 50 million) of registered voters that do not vote, the narrative would have changed completely.

In conclusion, supporters of the man nicknamed ‘Okwute’ (meaning rock) by close associates of his, like the biblical David, will need to have their back packs loaded with enough rocks to last several battles, that they would have to deploy strategically in other to win the war and set this country on the path to a more prosperous future. Also, every Israel needs a Moses, and Peter Obi seems to be one of the few that can lead us out of this post-independence subjugation.

The nation’s founding fathers fought for a dream, which has since been hijacked by a most vicious and self-perpetrating bunch that must be expunged. Next year’s poll presents another opportunity for Nigerians to reenact this dream. #EndSARS was good, but #OBIdience must be better. Like the wise saying goes; to be forewarned is to be forearmed.

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