Abaribe: Nigeria Would Be Better If Obi Had Won, Criticizes Tinubu’s Nepotism

Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, representing Abia South, has expressed his belief that Nigeria would be in a better state if Peter Obi, the Labour Party candidate in the 2023 presidential election, had emerged victorious. Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Monday, Abaribe highlighted what he described as widespread nepotism in the administration of President Bola Tinubu.

“If Peter Obi had won, you probably would have seen a better Nigeria than what we are seeing today,” Abaribe stated. He argued that Obi would not engage in nepotism, describing him as a leader with a fairer approach to governance. The senator pointed to Tinubu’s ministerial appointments as evidence of bias, citing the allocation of four ministerial positions to Ogun State while some states have only one representative. “How can Ogun State have four ministers? Why does he favor Ogun? Oyo State has only one minister,” he remarked.

Abaribe also criticized the continuation and deepening of nepotistic practices that, according to him, began under former President Muhammadu Buhari. “The nepotism of Buhari, which nobody followed, has now deepened under President Tinubu because Buhari did it, and nobody said much. I was the only person shouting,” he noted.

The senator called for the people of the South-East to focus on self-development rather than relying on federal administrations to treat the region fairly. Reflecting on past presidencies, Abaribe said, “Apart from Obasanjo and maybe Jonathan, I do not think that we have seen that same type of fairness.”

Addressing the recent arrest of Simon Ekpa, a Finland-based self-acclaimed leader of Biafra, Abaribe welcomed the development, calling it a significant step toward discouraging violence in the South-East. He criticized Ekpa for inciting unrest from abroad while disclaiming responsibility as merely a “content creator.” Abaribe emphasized that Ekpa’s actions are contrary to the values of the Igbo people and have negatively impacted legitimate calls for a non-violent referendum by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).

He further highlighted the challenges faced by security agencies in distinguishing between criminal activities and genuine agitation in the South-East. “Whatever they say they are doing in the South-East is not supported by anybody in the region. All you have is a band of criminals,” he asserted. Abaribe also reiterated the need for the release of Nnamdi Kanu, the detained IPOB leader, arguing that his release could reduce violence in the region as many acts of violence are carried out in Kanu’s name.