₦airaland Forum

Peter Obi’s latest meeting with former President Olusegun Obasanjo has revived speculation that the former president may endorse him again in 2027.

Obasanjo publicly supported Obi in 2023, describing him as the candidate with an edge over his opponents. Yet that endorsement delivered more prestige and publicity than votes.

Obi received 85,829 (14.6% ) votes in Ogun State, while Bola Tinubu polled 341,554. He even lost Obasanjo’s own polling unit in Abeokuta North, where Tinubu received 56 votes against Obi’s nine.

Obasanjo may still support Obi,but there are also reasons not to assume his position is settled.

During President Tinubu’s Ogun State visit on April 4, 2026, Obasanjo,for the first time, joined other prominent Ogun leaders in receiving the president publicly and cordially. Courtesy is not endorsement, but it shows that Obasanjo has not closed his political doors to Tinubu.

The truth is that in 2027 , Obasanjo could endorse Obi, sit on the fence or remain officially neutral.

Perhaps the most interesting question is not whether Olusegun Obasanjo will endorse Peter Obi again. The real question is what happens if he does not.

If he endorses Obi again, he will likely be celebrated as a courageous elder statesman. But if he remains neutral—or backs another candidate—will he suddenly become "tribal," "compromised," "bought over," or an "old man who has lost touch"?

Recent political history suggests that prominent figures who once stood shoulder-to-shoulder with Obi often become the subject of harsh criticism after they part ways with him.

Will the same Obidients who hailed Obasanjo as a visionary statesman in 2023 continue to respect his judgment if he declines to endorse Peter Obi in 2027?

Or will he suddenly become a "tribalist," a "compromised old man," an "establishment puppet," or someone who has "been bought"?

We have seen this pattern before.

Dr. Doyin Okupe, Peter Obi's first Campaign Director-General, was once celebrated as a brilliant strategist and loyal patriot. The moment he parted ways with Obi, many of the same voices that once applauded him turned on him with relentless insults and character assassination.

The same happened to Kenneth Okonkwo, who went from being one of Obi's most visible spokespersons to becoming the target of fierce online attacks after disagreeing with the movement.
He even have his tribal identity questioned in the process!!
Just to mention two examples out of many.

Will Obasanjo become the next casualty if he refuses to repeat his 2023 endorsement?

That would reinenforce uncomfortable truth about obidients: respect is often conditional.
Public figures are praised when they validate Peter Obi, but once they express a different political judgment, they risk being branded as compromised, tribalistic, corrupt or irrelevant.

Democracy does not require blind agreement. A mature political movement- should be able to accept that respected individuals may reach different conclusions without being subjected to abuse.

If Obasanjo endorses Obi, that is his democratic right. If he chooses another candidate—or remains neutral—that is equally his democratic right.

The real test will not be Obasanjo's decision. The real test will be the reaction of those who are today shouting "Hosanna!"

Will they continue to honour him as a respected elder statesman? Or will the cries of "Hosanna!" suddenly become cries of "Crucify him!"

Will he overnight become "compromised," "tribalistic," "bought over," or another member of the so-called establishment simply because he exercised an independent political judgment?

That moment, more than Obasanjo's eventual endorsement, will reveal whether the admiration was rooted in principle—or merely in political convenience.
YOUR GUESS IS AS GOOD AS MINE.

Who is endorsing who? You guys are just too funny acting comedy too much. Obasanjo endorsed grigory in 202e pls did it ended? Far 3rd even when the hype was high takless now obi political career already in deep sea being washed away.

Sbeg say something these one just making script.

Jayhome24:
Who is endorsing who? You guys are just too funny acting comedy too much. Obasanjo endorsed grigory in 202e pls did it ended? Far 3rd even when the hype was high takless now obi political career already in deep sea being washed away.

Sbeg say something these one just making script.

Obasanjo hatred for Atiku is unprecedented.

No one take Obasanjo serious in Abeokuta and he can never win his polling unit

CharlesCNG:
Peter Obi’s latest meeting with former President Olusegun Obasanjo has revived speculation that the former president may endorse him again in 2027.

Obasanjo publicly supported Obi in 2023, describing him as the candidate with an edge over his opponents. Yet that endorsement delivered more prestige and publicity than votes.

Obi received 85,829 (14.6% ) votes in Ogun State, while Bola Tinubu polled 341,554. He even lost Obasanjo’s own polling unit in Abeokuta North, where Tinubu received 56 votes against Obi’s nine.

Obasanjo may still support Obi,but there are also reasons not to assume his position is settled.

During President Tinubu’s Ogun State visit on April 4, 2026, Obasanjo,for the first time, joined other prominent Ogun leaders in receiving the president publicly and cordially. Courtesy is not endorsement, but it shows that Obasanjo has not closed his political doors to Tinubu.

The truth is that in 2027 , Obasanjo could endorse Obi, sit on the fence or remain officially neutral.

Perhaps the most interesting question is not whether Olusegun Obasanjo will endorse Peter Obi again. The real question is what happens if he does not.

If he endorses Obi again, he will likely be celebrated as a courageous elder statesman. But if he remains neutral—or backs another candidate—will he suddenly become "tribal," "compromised," "bought over," or an "old man who has lost touch"?

Recent political history suggests that prominent figures who once stood shoulder-to-shoulder with Obi often become the subject of harsh criticism after they part ways with him.

Will the same Obidients who hailed Obasanjo as a visionary statesman in 2023 continue to respect his judgment if he declines to endorse Peter Obi in 2027?

Or will he suddenly become a "tribalist," a "compromised old man," an "establishment puppet," or someone who has "been bought"?

We have seen this pattern before.

Dr. Doyin Okupe, Peter Obi's first Campaign Director-General, was once celebrated as a brilliant strategist and loyal patriot. The moment he parted ways with Obi, many of the same voices that once applauded him turned on him with relentless insults and character assassination.

The same happened to Kenneth Okonkwo, who went from being one of Obi's most visible spokespersons to becoming the target of fierce online attacks after disagreeing with the movement.
He even have his tribal identity questioned in the process!!
Just to mention two examples out of many.

Will Obasanjo become the next casualty if he refuses to repeat his 2023 endorsement?

That would reinenforce uncomfortable truth about obidients: respect is often conditional.
Public figures are praised when they validate Peter Obi, but once they express a different political judgment, they risk being branded as compromised, tribalistic, corrupt or irrelevant.

Democracy does not require blind agreement. A mature political movement- should be able to accept that respected individuals may reach different conclusions without being subjected to abuse.

If Obasanjo endorses Obi, that is his democratic right. If he chooses another candidate—or remains neutral—that is equally his democratic right.

The real test will not be Obasanjo's decision. The real test will be the reaction of those who are today shouting "Hosanna!"

Will they continue to honour him as a respected elder statesman? Or will the cries of "Hosanna!" suddenly become cries of "Crucify him!"

Will he overnight become "compromised," "tribalistic," "bought over," or another member of the so-called establishment simply because he exercised an independent political judgment?

That moment, more than Obasanjo's eventual endorsement, will reveal whether the admiration was rooted in principle—or merely in political convenience.
YOUR GUESS IS AS GOOD AS MINE.

If he supports the drug baron, you will celebrate it as someone who can pull votes in SW for the drug baron
If he supports obi,you will come back and say Obasanjo can not pull votes for obi in SW that he is only known in his state like the case of Kwankwaso.
You are never smart around people like us

Who is endorsing who? You guys are just too funny acting comedy too much. Obasanjo endorsed grigory in 202e pls did it ended? Far 3rd even when the hype was high takless now obi political career already in deep sea being washed away.

Sbeg say something these one just making script...

The election is January 2027 my friend. It's no hidden secret Obasanjo supports Obi and/or his minister Kwankwaso but never his vice, Atiku.

Streetinvestor2:
If he supports the drug baron, you will celebrate it as someone who can pull votes in SW for the drug baron
If he supports obi,you will come back and say Obasanjo can not pull votes for obi in SW that he is only known in his state like the case of Kwankwaso.
You are never smart around people like us

If Obasanjo supports the 3rd class gasscutter, you will say he's a statesman.
If he supports the President who thoroughly defeated Obi, you people from the politically weak side will start crying tribalism.

haffaze777:
No one take Obasanjo serious in Abeokuta and he can never win his polling unit

Ogun state and the SW is out of Obasanjo's sphere of influence.

Obidients will eventually retire Peter Obi politically considering the way have been handling issue or situation. Their emotions always give them out.

Streetinvestor2:
If he supports the drug baron, you will celebrate it as someone who can pull votes in SW for the drug baron
If he supports obi,you will come back and say Obasanjo can not pull votes for obi in SW that he is only known in his state like the case of Kwankwaso.
You are never smart around people like us

Your response suggests you either didn't read the article or completely missed its central argument.

The article was not about whether Obasanjo can deliver South-West votes to Tinubu or Peter Obi. In fact, it acknowledged that Obasanjo's electoral influence is often overstated.

The question the article raised was much simpler: What happens if Obasanjo does not endorse Peter Obi in 2027?

Will Obidients respect his democratic right to support another candidate—or no candidate at all? Or will they do what they have repeatedly done to former allies such as Doyin Okupe, Kenneth Okonkwo and others: suddenly declare him compromised, tribalistic or irrelevant?

Instead of answering that question, you invented a completely different argument and then attacked it.

That's called arguing with a straw man. It wins applause only from people who never read the original piece.

https://www.nairaland.com/8719496/come-arrest-me-man-laments

We Were Happy When We Saw That a Man From Our Own Yoruba Land Became President. “I was happy when I saw that a Yoruba man is in Aso Rock (President). The reason is because Fashola worked in Lagos, Ambode worked in Lagos.

But What Has Happened? I didn't know i was catching myself MUGU. If Tinubu will do well, you will see it in the

Streetinvestor2:
If he supports the drug baron, you will celebrate it as someone who can pull votes in SW for the drug baron
If he supports obi,you will come back and say Obasanjo can not pull votes for obi in SW that he is only known in his state like the case of Kwankwaso.
You are never smart around people like us

By drug baron you must be talking about Obi because his people are drug kings in south Africa, India, Malaysia etc

When Obasanjo supported Obi, Tinubu humiliated both Obasanjo and Obi jointly and threw them both into the political gutters and now that Tinubu is a sitting president, how on earth is an Obi going to defeat Tinubu