₦airaland Forum

Peter Obi’s recent comments on Nnamdi Kanu are another troubling example of weak political judgment. Years ago, Kwankwaso’s camp argued that many northern voters already viewed Obi through the lens of IPOB and Biafra, and that this perception damaged his acceptability in the North. Instead of working carefully to neutralize that suspicion, Obi has now reopened it with remarks suggesting there is “no reason” to keep Kanu detained and that he would “engage” agitators if he were in power.

That is politically reckless.

There is a Yoruba proverb that fits perfectly: if people already whisper that a man is a thief, he should not be seen dancing with a goat. Whether the suspicion is fair or not is no longer the immediate issue. The issue is that a wise leader avoids conduct that deepens dangerous doubt.

A future commander-in-chief should sound firm, balanced, and reassuring to the whole federation. He should know the difference between lawful grievance and movements tied to coercion, fear, and bloodshed. Instead, Obi too often sounds soft where the office of president requires steel.

That is why this matters. A man seeking to lead Nigeria should rise above ethnic emotion and sectional sentiment. But with comments like this, Obi risks sounding less like a national leader and more like an ethnic agenda champion chasing a federal title.

Obi is not interested in being president.

He's playing a game.

CharlesCNG:
Peter Obi’s recent comments on Nnamdi Kanu are another troubling example of weak political judgment. Years ago, Kwankwaso’s camp argued that many northern voters already viewed Obi through the lens of IPOB and Biafra, and that this perception damaged his acceptability in the North. Instead of working carefully to neutralize that suspicion, Obi has now reopened it with remarks suggesting there is “no reason” to keep Kanu detained and that he would “engage” agitators if he were in power.

That is politically reckless.

There is a Yoruba proverb that fits perfectly: if people already whisper that a man is a thief, he should not be seen dancing with a goat. Whether the suspicion is fair or not is no longer the immediate issue. The issue is that a wise leader avoids conduct that deepens dangerous doubt.

A future commander-in-chief should sound firm, balanced, and reassuring to the whole federation. He should know the difference between lawful grievance and movements tied to coercion, fear, and bloodshed. Instead, Obi too often sounds soft where the office of president requires steel.

That is why this matters. A man seeking to lead Nigeria should rise above ethnic emotion and sectional sentiment. But with comments like this, Obi risks sounding less like a national leader and more like an ethnic agenda champion chasing a federal title.

So if the north don't vote obi because he is biafran (igbo))
They will now vote the drug baron because he has been Yoruba president for the past 3 yrs.Let the north vote Atiku. It is still OK for SE

A court of law trailed the man and found him guilty...


Obi came out to say "no reason". The man amazes me sometimes when he speaks!

brain54:
A court of law trailed the man and found him guilty...


Obi came out to say "no reason". The man amazes me sometimes when he speaks!

You are absolutely right.
A court of law heard the matter, followed the evidence, and found the man guilty. Yet Peter Obi came out to say there was “no reason.”
That is not compassion; that is poor judgment wearing a gentle face.
A man who wants to be commander-in-chief( God forbid bad thing !) should not sound like someone waving away what the courts have settled.
There is a proverb: when elders have washed their hands and pointed to the dirt, a child should not come dancing around the stain as if it is soap.
Obi amazes people because he keeps speaking on grave matters with the lightness of a man discussing market gossip, not national security.
Brainless!

Streetinvestor2:
So if the north don't vote obi because he is biafran (igbo))
They will now vote the drug baron because he has been Yoruba president for the past 3 yrs.Let the north vote Atiku. It is still OK for SE

Peter Obi will never EVER be President courtesy of Nigerians from the NW, NE, NC , SW and SS rejecting him at the polls.

It's good you now agree that the contest is now between Tinubu and Atiku.

Your third class Giringori should go and rest.

you see all of una ba? Obi matter go kill una with high BP.

Sebi Mazi talk una think say na joke. make una wait - 3 years from now, una entire land go be second fulani caliphate like the hausa land that was their first caliphate.

All of una go hear am.

MEANWHILE, PLS CONCENTRATE ON OBI. #BLOODYCOWARDS!#

I said in another thread, there's no difference between Gumi and the SE leaders.
They are terrorists sympathisers

CharlesCNG:
Peter Obi’s recent comments on Nnamdi Kanu are another troubling example of weak political judgment. Years ago, Kwankwaso’s camp argued that many northern voters already viewed Obi through the lens of IPOB and Biafra, and that this perception damaged his acceptability in the North. Instead of working carefully to neutralize that suspicion, Obi has now reopened it with remarks suggesting there is “no reason” to keep Kanu detained and that he would “engage” agitators if he were in power.

That is politically reckless.

There is a Yoruba proverb that fits perfectly: if people already whisper that a man is a thief, he should not be seen dancing with a goat. Whether the suspicion is fair or not is no longer the immediate issue. The issue is that a wise leader avoids conduct that deepens dangerous doubt.

A future commander-in-chief should sound firm, balanced, and reassuring to the whole federation. He should know the difference between lawful grievance and movements tied to coercion, fear, and bloodshed. Instead, Obi too often sounds soft where the office of president requires steel.

That is why this matters. A man seeking to lead Nigeria should rise above ethnic emotion and sectional sentiment. But with comments like this, Obi risks sounding less like a national leader and more like an ethnic agenda champion chasing a federal title.

Make them vote tinubu Abeg

Every other thing about Obi is either an outright lie or hypocrisy; it is only on this kind of matter that he truly expresses his true feelings. Do not forget his support for Onitcha traders, even when NAFDAC, or was it NDLEA, raided the place and said that the place was a den of drugs, he did not hide his stand, which did not seem to care that the place was being used for illegal activities.

Peter obi is after that former presidential candidate title only.

TemplarLandry:
Wọ́n ńpè ẹ́ l'ólè, ò ń gbé ọmọ ẹran ṣe'ré. Hahaa.

No mind am..... na nemesis...

Hausa say.... BAKI KE YANKA WUYA...

na mouth dey cut neck

I always had this feeling that Obi is just going through the motions.... him body no dey dia.....

Gor fear of the backlash from his desolate followers, he cannot withdraw from the race.

A retired general died in the custody of terrorist militias just few hours ago yet the problem vuvuzelas is still Peter Giringory Obi who came distant third in elections three years ago. When will you clowns ever set your priorities right ? A WHOLE GENERAL

Streetinvestor2:
So if the north don't vote obi because he is biafran (igbo))
They will now vote the drug baron because he has been Yoruba president for the past 3 yrs.Let the north vote Atiku. It is still OK for SE

You have actually proved my point. Instead of answering the issue of judgment, you ran straight into tribal reduction and abuse. The article did not say the North should reject Obi because he is Igbo. It said a serious candidate should avoid statements that deepen existing suspicion in a fragile country. That is called political judgment.

And as for the “drug baron” line, abuse is not argument. If you have facts, present them. If not, then you are only using insult to dodge substance.

The real issue remains simple: when a man knows there is already a perception problem around him, wisdom demands that he speak and act in ways that reduce it, not inflame it. Obi did the opposite.

There is a proverb: when the soup is hot, a wise man blows gently; he does not put firewood under the pot. Obi keeps adding firewood where caution is needed. That is the point.

CharlesCNG:
You are absolutely right.
A court of law heard the matter, followed the evidence, and found the man guilty. Yet Peter Obi came out to say there was “no reason.”
That is not compassion; that is poor judgment wearing a gentle face.
A man who wants to be commander-in-chief( God forbid bad thing !) should not sound like someone waving away what the courts have settled.
There is a proverb: when elders have washed their hands and pointed to the dirt, a child should not come dancing around the stain as if it is soap.
Obi amazes people because he keeps speaking on grave matters with the lightness of a man discussing market gossip, not national security.
Brainless!

And what has Tinubu done to right the sinking ship of Nigeria since he took over? Are Nigerians better today because of Tinubu's misrule?