Why north may not trust Obi
As a matter of fact, no particular region can singlehandedly make a party win the presidential election, but north may not trust Peter Obi. The Labour Party presidential candidate can have what it takes to turn the country around. He can do a lot to transform the country. Yet northern region will continue to have misgivings about him.
The Labour Party has picked his running mate from a northern state. Yusuf Datti hails from north. But that doesn’t or can’t change the minds of millions of northern voters. They are putting their focus on the presidential candidate not the running mate.
Mr. Peter Obi has not taken his time to dissociate himself from the agitation of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra and its sympathisers. The group stepped up its activities when Buhari took over from Goodluck Jonathan.
Lots of Igbo people still have this feeling attached to the establishment of a Biafra Republic. The northerners consider secession as a red line. They have never put up with the idea of allowing the Igbo people to create their own state.
Peter Obi should have dealt with the issue by stating his belief and by constantly rejecting the calls for Biafra Republic. Of course, he must have done something about it. Nevertheless, the northern voters are not yet convinced.
The IPOB does declare a sit-at-home for the people and residents of southeast states. Shops, schools, banks, markets, streets are often quiet and void of activities during this period which is often Monday. The group does this to protest the incarceration of Mr. Nnamdi Kanu.
Labour Party is another factor herein. The party lost a number of followers in Jigawa state only few days ago. Jigawa is in northwest of the country. The defecting members of the party said they didn’t believe the party would win. They must have done their analysis to see the viability of the party.
The candidacy of Peter Obi would have been sellable if he had used some other platforms possibly the All Progressives Congress or the People’s Democratic Party.
The APC and the PDP have stalwarts in the region, who could convince the northern voters. Mr. Peter Obi was in Katsina State to campaign. It’s unfortunate that there was hardly a top northern leader in the gathering.
Whereas northern voters do listen and follow the instructions of their traditional or sociopolitical leaders. How does Peter Obi expect the voters from north to trust him?
A movement is backing Peter Obi. “Obidient” people are combative, aggressive, troublesome and boring. Rather than persuading voters to queue behind Peter Obi, their “idol”, they will rather haul abusive words on opponents or those who hold opposing views.
They have made Peter Obi a commodity to be avoided among the northern voters. You can check the social media to see comments and reactions of the members of the movement.
Most definitely, the northern voters will feel their security will be under threat. Hence, north may not trust Obi for the job. The end product is they will massively vote against him.
Follow us on social media
