ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

The Atiku Media Office has expressed concern over the reported endorsement of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu by hundreds of lecturers from universities across Northern Nigeria, warning that academics who openly declare partisan allegiance should not subsequently be entrusted with sensitive electoral responsibilities by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Lecturers have every constitutional right to support, campaign for, and vote for any candidate of their choice. That right is not in dispute. What is unacceptable, however, is for persons who have publicly taken partisan positions to later present themselves as neutral electoral officials.

Any academic who openly endorses a presidential candidate should not come anywhere near sensitive INEC assignments as returning officers, collation officers or officials entrusted with the collation, declaration and announcement of election results. Electoral credibility requires not only actual neutrality, but also public confidence in the neutrality of those administering the process.

More disturbing is the reported presence of elected governors and a serving Minister of Defence at the endorsement. That senior officials of the ruling party would lend the weight of their offices to such an overtly partisan gathering of academics is deeply troubling and speaks to the desperation surrounding the Tinubu administration’s quest for re-election.

It is a shame that the Tinubu administration appears determined to strip our scholars of the dignity of their academic gowns and dress them instead in the garb of partisan political rascality. Universities should remain centres of independent thought, scholarship and intellectual freedom, not recruitment grounds for the political machinery of a desperate ruling party.

What we are witnessing tells the story of a government increasingly prepared to push against every moral boundary in its determination to secure another term in office, regardless of the damage done to institutions that ought to command public trust.

This principle must apply equally to academics who openly support Atiku Abubakar or any other presidential candidate. No one should be allowed to play today and referee tomorrow.

“You cannot wear a party jersey today and expect Nigerians to accept you as an impartial referee on election day.

INEC must take note and ensure that academics who have publicly declared partisan allegiance are excluded from sensitive electoral responsibilities in the 2027 elections.

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

The Peter Obi Media Office on Sunday rolled out what it described as 10 major achievements of the former Anambra State governor in public office and placed them against 10 alleged failures of President Bola Tinubu, declaring that Obi’s case for the presidency rests on performance rather than political patronage.

The intervention came as Obi’s camp pushed back against claims by supporters of the President that the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, presidential flagbearer is “overhyped” and that his popularity and political rating are exaggerated.

In a statement signed by Idris Zekeri Jnr, the media office said Obi had already demonstrated his capacity to manage public resources during his eight years as governor of Anambra State and therefore did not need the presidency as a training ground.

“Peter Obi is not asking Nigerians to make him President so that he can learn how government works,” the statement said.

“He is asking Nigerians to entrust him with Nigeria after demonstrating, as Governor of Anambra, how he manages money, builds institutions, invests in human capital and plans for the future.”

Obi Rolls Out His Record

Heading the list of Obi’s claimed achievements was his experience managing Anambra State between 2006 and 2014 despite political and legal battles that interrupted his tenure.

The media office said his administration demonstrated fiscal discipline, kept Anambra among the country’s least-indebted states and accumulated substantial savings and investments.

Citing Obi’s 2023 presidential manifesto, it put investments and savings associated with his administration at approximately $500 million, including $156 million in dollar-denominated investments.

His ability to leave financial reserves behind rather than exhaust available government resources was listed as a separate achievement and presented as evidence of his philosophy of prudent management.

Education was another area highlighted.

The statement pointed to Obi’s return of mission schools to their original owners and subsequent partnerships between the government and the missions, claiming that Anambra rose from 24th position to first in WAEC and NECO examinations for three consecutive years.

The Obi camp also cited investments in human capital through scholarships, education, healthcare and poverty-mapping programmes.

Healthcare was listed as the sixth achievement, with the media office claiming that more than 12 health institutions, including two hospitals, had secured accreditation by the end of Obi’s tenure compared with none when he assumed office.

Obi’s engagement with international development organisations, including the World Bank, UNDP, DFID and European Union, was also presented as evidence of his ability to attract development partnerships.

His administration’s introduction of poverty mapping, aerial mapping and the Anambra Integrated Development Strategy, ANIDS, was cited as proof of data-driven planning.

The ninth point focused on Obi’s private-sector background in business and banking before entering politics, while the tenth argued that, unlike politicians relying largely on campaign promises, Obi had an eight-year executive record Nigerians could examine.

Obi Camp Turns On Tinubu

Having presented Obi’s record, the media office turned its attention to Tinubu, listing what it described as 10 failures Nigerians “cannot ignore.”

At the top was the cost-of-living crisis that followed the removal of petrol subsidy and other economic reforms.

It accused the administration of presiding over inflation and declining purchasing power, saying Nigerians were increasingly finding that their incomes could buy less.

Naira depreciation was listed as the third failure, with the opposition camp arguing that currency weakness had increased the cost of imported goods, medicines, machinery and industrial inputs.

The sharp increase in petrol prices following subsidy removal was identified separately as another failure because of its impact on transportation, businesses and household expenses.

Rising poverty and hardship came fifth, with Obi’s media office arguing that ordinary Nigerians had carried a disproportionate share of the burden imposed by the government’s reforms.

Security, Jobs And Public Trust

The Obi camp also accused the Tinubu administration of failing to create sufficient employment and economic opportunities, particularly for young Nigerians confronted by unemployment and underemployment.

Persistent insecurity was listed as the seventh failure.

The statement pointed to banditry, terrorism, kidnapping and communal violence in different parts of the country as evidence that the government’s security strategy had yet to produce the desired results.

Concerns about transparency and public trust formed the eighth charge, with Obi’s media office pointing to controversies surrounding government expenditure, appointments, procurement and management of public resources.

The ninth alleged failure was what the statement described as a perception that political consolidation and calculations towards the 2027 election were sometimes taking precedence over institution-building.

It reserved its final criticism for what it called the gap between government promises and Nigerians’ lived experiences.

According to Obi’s media office, the administration’s claims of economic reform have not translated into sufficient improvements in the everyday lives of citizens.

The statement acknowledged that Tinubu inherited significant economic and security problems when he assumed office in May 2023, but argued that this could no longer be the only yardstick for assessing his administration.

“The fundamental question is not whether Tinubu inherited a difficult Nigeria. He did,” the statement said.

“The question is whether, after taking difficult decisions, Nigerians are better off today — and whether the government has convincingly demonstrated that today’s sacrifice is producing tomorrow’s prosperity.”

Obi’s media office supplied its own answer in emphatic terms: “Your answer is an obvious capital NO.”

It consequently maintained that the contest over who is prepared to lead Nigeria should be decided by measurable performance rather than political endorsements and patronage.

For Obi’s camp, the emerging 2027 argument is therefore simple: put the former Anambra governor’s record in public office beside Tinubu’s record in the presidency and let Nigerians make the comparison.

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

Presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has said he will concede defeat in the 2027 presidential election if the poll is free, fair and credible.

Obi made the declaration during an interview on Arise TV on Thursday, insisting that he would respect the choice of Nigerians if they opted for another candidate.

“If the election is free, fair and credible, I will because it’s an election. It’s the people that would say who they want to serve, and I will respect the will of the people; that’s democracy,” he said.

However, the former Anambra State governor maintained that he won the 2023 presidential election, insisting that those who conducted the poll were aware of what transpired.

“I did, and I will maintain that as long as I live that I won the 2023 election. Those who conducted it know the records; they know why there was a glitch and what happened,” Obi said.

‘Presidency Must Not Be About Tribe, Religion’

Addressing the argument that Nigeria’s presidency should operate on a “turn-by-turn” basis among regions, Obi said electoral choices should be based on competence rather than ethnicity or religion.

He argued that he possesses the qualifications and experience required to lead the country, adding that his exposure to institutions and systems around the world had prepared him for the presidency.

“Election should not be driven by tribe or religion. Today, in terms of qualification, I’m qualified to be president of Nigeria. I have the competence,” he said.

Obi also highlighted his educational background, citing studies at institutions including Oxford, Cambridge, Harvard, Columbia and Kellogg.

He challenged anyone with evidence questioning the authenticity of his qualifications to come forward, saying he would withdraw from the presidential race if any of his certificates were proven to be false.

“If they find anyone wrong, I will drop from the race,” he said.

Obi Questions Lack of Youth Representation

The NDC candidate also criticised what he described as the prolonged absence of younger Nigerians from the presidency since independence.

According to Obi, no Nigerian born after 1960 has served as president despite the country’s large youthful population.

“Since 1960, nobody born outside 1960 has been president of Nigeria. This is 66 years of independence; no other country in the world has had this happen to, and they tell youths they’re the leaders of tomorrow,” he said.