Kenneth Okonkwo, who once championed Peter Obi’s presidential ambitions as his campaign spokesperson, now says the former Anambra State governor threw away a golden opportunity for greatness. The criticism marks a dramatic turn from someone who was deeply embedded in Obi’s 2023 election machinery.
Speaking on the Selah Meditate Podcast, Okonkwo didn’t mince words. “Peter Obi is a man who had opportunity of being great and dashed it by himself,” he declared. His argument? Obi failed to make the necessary sacrifices to capitalize on unprecedented public support.
What made Obi’s situation unique, according to Okonkwo, was that Nigerians were willing to hand him power without the usual political price tag. “For the first time in Nigeria, people are willing to give somebody power free of charge,” he noted. That doesn’t happen often in Nigerian politics.
Okonkwo’s assessment extended to other political heavyweights. He praised Atiku Abubakar as a benevolent leader refusing to quit until Nigeria experiences his vision. President Bola Tinubu? The “worst leader” Nigeria would ever have, in Okonkwo’s estimation.
Obi finished third in the 2023 presidential race and remains positioned for the 2027 contest. Whether he’ll heed his former ally’s critique remains an open question.
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