By CHIEDU UCHE OKOYE

That Nigeria is bedeviled by security challenges, economic stagnation, national disunity, and infrastructural deficit is an incontrovertible fact. The above-mentioned problems and the centrifugal forces of ethnic hatred and religious bigotry are taking Nigeria to the precipice of dismemberment. So what Nigeria needs at this critical juncture in its national journey is a leader, who is a political unifier, visionary, and astute manager of men and resources. And the man, who fits the bill, with regard to that kind of leader, who can fix our national problems, is Mr. Peter Gregory Obi.

During his reign as the governor of Anambra State, Obi recorded outstanding achievements in the areas of education and economy. In addition to turning around the education and economic sectors, he revamped and revitalized the health sector. And he left his leadership footprints on the sands of time in the areas of agriculture, security, and infrastructural development.

Since his exit from office in 2014, no controversies have dogged his heels. EFCC did not breathe down his neck for allegations bordering on financial malfeasance, not to talk of him spending time in jail for financial crimes. The fact is that Mr. Peter Obi, who is criticized for being a tight wad, is whistle clean. His judicious and prudent management of Anambra state's financial resources is a praxis, which state governors in Nigeria should emulate.

Not only is he morally-upright, but he is, also, a well-intentioned Nigerian. He has a pan Nigerian vision cum dream. At many different economic fora and political summits, which he attended over the years, he unfolded his road-maps on how to fix Nigeria's sundry problems. He behaves as though he is Nigeria's president in-waiting. And he has suggested alternative economic policies to us as President Tinubu's economic policies have erased the middle class and deepened the economic woes of the hoi polloi.

Not unexpectedly, when he contested for the presidential seat in Nigeria in 2023 on the platform of the Labour Party, he polled millions of votes. He would have won that presidential election, but for INEC'S carrying out of electoral jiggery-pokery in favour of the ruling APC. His spectacular performance in that election underlined his acceptance by millions of Nigerians, who belong to different ethnic groups.

Seeing that Peter Obi is perceived as Nigeria's political Messiah; and that he is poised to dislodge the incumbent president from office, crisis was instigated in the Labour Party. As a result, the party was wracked with leadership crisis. Being a wise politician, Mr. Peter Obi jumped ship, and berthed at ADC.

But the enemy forces, which are bent on aborting Mr. Peter Obi's presidential dream, will not let him be. They bought buyable and morally bankrupt top ADC members to their side, and directed them to foment ceaseless troubles in ADC. The temporary de-recognition of David Mark and Rauf Aregbesola as the chairman and secretary of ADC by the national electoral umpire unsettled and rattled politicians, who wanted to contest elective posts on the ADC platform, then.

So it is obvious to us that the surfeit of judicial hurdles placed on the path of ADC compelled Peter Obi to pitch his political tent with the Seriake Dickson's NDC. That is why Obi should not be vilified for defecting to NDC.

His seemingly constant political migration is necessary in order for him to keep alive his presidential dream and keep his political foes at bay. So his political peregrinations should not be viewed as the deeds of a political desperado, who wants to become the president of Nigeria at any cost. That is not the case.

The stark fact is that Mr. Peter Obi is a well-intentioned politician, who has a pan Nigerian vision. Are his utterances and deeds not portraying him as a politician, who believes in the unity and oneness of Nigeria? The philanthropic deeds, which he carries out, oftentimes, are not determined by ethnic and religious considerations. He traverses the nooks and crannies of Nigeria doling out millions of naira for the revamping of health and educational institutions. So it can be seen that he is the national leader, who can unite Nigerians, who hail from diverse ethnic backgrounds and profess different religious faiths.

Again, he waxes presidential in his utterances and deeds, which are indications that he is the right person to preside over our country's affairs at this critical juncture in our national life. His participation in national discourses and the solutions he proffers to our national problems are proofs that he is well-prepared to lead Nigeria and take it to the acme of infrastructural, technological, and economic development.

And now that Mr. Peter Obi and Rabiu Kwankwaso are in NDC; and now that the party has zoned its presidential ticket to the south; and now that Kwankwaso has agreed to accept the vice presidential position in NDC, Mr. Peter Obi's presidential dream is more realizable now than before. It is gaining momentum and traction. And not a few Nigerians have acquiesced into his political and economic ideologies.

So when the fanatical members of the Obidient Movement join forces with the Kwankwasiyya group, a formidable and unstoppable political movement will be formed. And it will be fight to finish between the Tinubu's ruling APC and Obi's NDC. Certainly, something will give. Is Peter Obi not going to emerge as the president of Nigeria?

•Chiedu Uche Okoye, a poet, writes from Uruowulu-Obosi, Anambra State. He can be reached via 08062220654 and 09125204141

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