User:SafariScribe/Peter Obi

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Peter Gregory Onwubuasi Obi CON (Igbo: [òbí] ⓘ; born July 19, 1961) is a Nigerian politician, statesman, political activist and business executive. He served twice as the Governor of Anambra State from 2006 to 2010, and a second term until 2014.

Born in Onitsha, Anambra State, Obi had his secondary education at Christ the King College, Onitsha and tertiary at the University of Nigeria in 1984. After his education, he entered banking and business. By 2000, he chaired Fidelity Bank before joining full-time politics. Obi contested for the Governorship of Anambra State in 2003 under All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) but lost to Chris Ngige. In 2006 he was declared the governor and assumed office in March of same month, and shortly into his office, Obi was impeached in November by the judiciary, and after it was overturned, he returned to office in February 2007. Again, he was removed from office after the Anambra State Governorship election in 2007, but the judiciary intervened for his second term which he did until 2014.

Obi decamped to the Peoples Democratic Party. In 2019, he was the selected vice presidential candidate for the 2019 Nigerian general election along Atiku Abubakar. In 2022, Obi ran for president along Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed as the vice presidential candidate under the Labour Party in Nigeria. Though lost the section, Obi's campaign has been described as populist especially with the legacy of firing a group of 'Obidients'. Obi has received several awards from his political roles, amongst them the 'Man of the Year' by The Sun in 2007.

Early life and education[edit]

Obi was born on July 19, 1961, in Onitsha, part of Southeastern Nigeria, to a devout Christian family.[1][2] Obi belonged to the Igbo family]] of Agulu, a locality in Anaocha, Anambra State. He pursued his secondary education at Christ the King College, Onitsha, where he obtained his West African Examination Council (WAEC). In 1980, he enrolled at the University of Nigeria in Nsukka, Enugu State, where he obtained a degree in Philosophy in 1984.[3]

Obi studied at Lagos Business School, International Institute for Management Development in Switzerland, Harvard Business School, Saïd Business School in England, Cambridge Judge Business School, and Kellogg School of Management.[3]

Career[edit]

Governor of Anambra State, 2006–2010[edit]

After education, Obi entered into banking and finance. By 2000, he became a full-time politician. He contested for the Governor of Anambra State under the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in 2003, which he lost to counterpart, Chris Ngige. Ngige's defeat in the election was overturned in 2006, by the Court of Appeal in Nigeria. This led. Obi to assume the office of the governor on March 17, 2006. Seven months in office, Obi was impeached by the Anambra State House of Assembly and declared his deputy Virginia Etiaba as the governor. Obi, after a successful challenge of his impeachment was re-instated on February 9, 2007 in a sitting at Enugu State.

In the next three months, INEC declared Andy Uba the Governor of Anambra State over Obi's unfinished term. Obi returned with charges saying that his four-year tenure of 2003 was challenged and he started in March 2006. On 14 June 2007, the Supreme Court of Nigeria upheld Obi's petition and returned him to office, an office held until March 2010.

Second term, 2010–2014 and later life[edit]

On 7 February 2010, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared Obi as the winner of the Anambra State election in 2010 defeating counterpart, Charles Soludo. After being in office for four years as the rule of law, Obi was succeeded on 17 March 17, 2014, by Willie Obiano.

After the 2015 General Election, President Goodluck Jonathan appointed Obi as the chairman of the Nigerian Security and Exchange Commission (SEC), and on 12 October 2018, Obi was named as the running mate to Atiku Abubakar under the Peoples Democratic Party's for the presidential election in 2019.

Obi was the third in the results.[4]

Presidential candidacy[edit]

Further information: 2023 Nigerian presidential election

On 24 March 2022, Obi declared his intention to run for President of Nigeria under the party, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Afterwards, he pulled out, announcing that he will be running under the Labour Party instead.[5][6] According to the Nigerian newspaper Peoples Gazette, Peter Obi wrote to the leaders of PDP on 24 May to resign his membership.[7] He reportedly complained of massive bribing of delegates and vote buying during the party's presidential primary, citing the existence of a party clique collaborating against him.[8]

Obi's business background and status as a major candidate unaffiliated with either of Nigeria's two main parties has drawn comparisons with Emmanuel Macron's successful 2017 French presidential candidacy.[9][10][11][12] Obi has expressed admiration for the French President, Emmanuel Macron and was among the officials who received him during his visit to Lagos.[13]

Obidient movement[edit]

During the 2023 Presidential election campaign, people under 30 proved to be some of the biggest Obi's supporters, showing their support via social media, protests and street marches.[14][15][16][17][18] Aisha Yesufu, a prominent activist noted as the cofounder of the #BringBackOurGirls movement and a supporter of the End SARS campaign, endorsed Obi in her first-ever endorsement of a presidential candidate.[19]

Young supporters of Obi's campaign were generally called the "Obidients", which was coined from his name "Obi".[17] In a Business Day opinion article, Chikwurah Isiguzo argued that:[20]

[The Obidients] are attracted by Peter Obi's ideology of frugality, economic production rather than the ostentatious consumerism and waste, and resourceful management and investment in key sectors, for economic growth and development.

Political commentators have generally argued that Obi's third party candidacy appeals to young voters dissatisfied with the two major parties, which has resulted in the "biggest political movement in recent Nigerian history."[21] With his core message of prudence and accountability, Obi has managed to gain the backing of voters for his previously largely unknown Labour Party into a strong third force against two political heavyweights, APC and PDP.[22] Before campaigns were officially kicked off, Obi's supporters held a series of One Million Man Marches in several Nigerian cities including Makurdi, Calabar, Lafia, Port Harcourt, Afikpo, Owerri, Enugu, Auchi, Abuja, Kano, Ilorin, Abakaliki and Ibadan. The marches were not part of the official campaigns; as they were led by volunteer Obi supporters and not Obi's in-house team or political party. The marches experienced massive turnouts.[23][24][25][26]

Obiageli Ezekwesili, a former Minister of Education in Nigeria, stated that Nigerian women are more inclined toward the potential presidency of Obi[clarification needed] in an interview with Channels TV.[27]

Selection of running mate[edit]

Physician Doyin Okupe initially was the temporary running mate of Obi until a substantive candidate could be selected.[28] In the run-up to the final selection of a running mate, media outlets reported that there was an effort to have former Senator Shehu Sani of Kaduna State serve as Obi's running mate.[29]

On 8 July 2022, Obi unveiled his running mate, Senator for Kaduna North Senatorial District Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed. Speaking on his choice of the vice presidential candidate, he stated:

This is our right to secure, unite and make Nigeria productive. And you can't do that without having people who have similar visions, ideas and are prepared for the task. So, I have the honour today to present to you, God willing, Nigeria's next vice president in the person of Senator Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed.[30]

Election results[edit]

The results were announced on 1 March 2023. Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress party, was named the president-elect with 8.79 million votes. Obi received 6.1 million votes, and won in both Lagos and Abuja.[31] This put Obi in third place behind winner Bola Tinubu and People's Democratic Party nominee Atiku Abubakar. Due to the elections being rife with several allegations, reports and evidence of voter manipulation, disenfranchisement and rigging,[32] Obi announced that he would challenge the election results, stating that, "We won the election and we will prove it to Nigerians".[33][34]

Views and controversy[edit]

National security and feminism[edit]

Obi, as a political activist has publicly demanded that the Federal Government of Nigeria account the names of various individuals who are responsible for financing terrorism and oil theft in Nigeria. In 2020, he expressed support for the End SARS social movement against police brutality.

Regarded as a feminist, Obi has stated that "he believes women are less prone to corruption in public office than men, and his gubernatorial staff were predominantly women". Obi had also criticized the term being the First Lady of Nigeria, stating "It was not my wife that was voted in but me, the Ministry of Women Affairs is enough to take good care of women." During the International African Women's Day, Obi stated: "In Nigeria, we advocate continually greater women participation in leadership, nation-building and society, which begins with unfettered social inclusion, gender mainstreaming and empowerment."

Controversy[edit]

On 1 April 2023, unconfirmed reports had that Nigerian newspaper Peoples Gazette published a phone conservation of Obi and Bishop David Oyedepo of the Living Faith Church Worldwide. In the call done before the Nigerian presidential election in 2023, Obi declared that the election was "a religious war" and solicited the support of the bishop to reach out to Christians across the Southwest, Nigeria and in the North central. The report generated great controversy while his supporters, "the Obedients" claimed it was fake.

On the fifth of same month, Obi tweeted that the published phone call was fake and threatened to take legal action against the newspaper. On 1 May 2023, Obi appeared in an interview on Arise TV in Abuja, Nigeria, and when he was repeatedly asked of the audio, he responded that he is neither tribal or a religious bigot. Obi emphasised that it was normal for him and other politicians to solicit support from religious leaders during elections.

Pandora papers[edit]

Main article: Pandora Papers

As a result of the Pandora Papers leaks, the Premium Times reported on Obi's involvement in offshore companies in tax havens such as the British Virgin Islands and Barbados.[35] Obi appeared to have made shell companies in the 1990s with the Barbados-based Beauchamp Investments Limited and UK-based Next International (UK) Limited being tied back to Obi and his family.[36] This was before he held any political office in Nigeria. Further reporting showed that in 2010 as well, Obi had Access International help him set up and manage Gabriella Investments Limited, a company in the British Virgin Islands named after Obi's daughter. One of the directors was also the director of a Belize-based shell company that was issued 50,000 shares in Gabriella Investments. In 2017, Obi reorganized the company under the name PMGG Investments Limited and created a trust named The Gabriella Settlement, which became the sole shareholder in PMGG Investments Limited. Obi was not holding any political position at this time.

A Premium Times report claimed that Obi remained as director of Next International (UK) Limited while serving as Governor of Anambra State, which is in direct violation of Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act. In an interview with Arise News, Obi clarified that he resigned from all companies before taking office as Governor of Anambra State.[37]

The report also claimed that Obi's non-declaration of his offshore companies broke the Nigerian Constitution's provision that require public officers to declare all their properties, assets, and liabilities.[36] Obi stated that he did not break any laws and clarified that the accounts' money was accrued from his time as a businessman. The EFCC invited him for questioning in October 2021, after President Buhari directed all anti-corruption agencies to investigate those named in the leaks.[38][39][40]

Personal life and awards[edit]

In 1992, Obi married Margaret Brownson (née Usen) and they have two children.[41]

Obi was awarded the Man of the Year by The Sun in 2007.[3] Nigerian newspaper This Day recognised him as the Most Prudent Governor in Nigeria in 2009,[42] and the Best Performing Governor on Immunization in Southeast, Nigeria by Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation in 2012.[43] In 2013 Obi became the Silverbird Group's Man of the Year. In 2014, he was awarded the Distinguished Alumnus Award from the Lagos Business School Alumni Association (LBSAA),[44] the Nigerian Library Association Golden Merit Award.[45] and the Pontifical Equestrian Order of Saint Sylvester.[46]

Obi, for This Day, was the Governor of the Decade in 2020,[47] and the Leadership Excellence Award's Man of the Year in 2022.[48]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Ayeni, Tofe (May 3, 2022). "Nigeria: 10 things about Peter Obi, presidential aspirant". The Africa Report.com. Retrieved May 15, 2024.
  2. ^ Orjinmo, Olivia Ndubuisi & Nduka (January 19, 2023). "Peter Obi: Di Labour Party candidate wey dey totori young Nigerians". BBC News Pidgin. Lagos, Nigeria. Retrieved May 15, 2024.
  3. ^ a b c Akubuiro, Henry (July 19, 2022). "Peter Obi: 61 years on a solid rock – The Sun Nigeria". The Sun Nigeria. Retrieved May 27, 2024.
  4. ^ Obadare, Ebenezer (March 22, 2023). "Peter Obi and a Dream Deferred". Council on Foreign Relations. Abuja, Nigeria. Retrieved May 15, 2024.
  5. ^ "2023 - Peter Obi declares for president, vows to create jobs, secure Nigeria". 2022-03-24. Archived from the original on 7 May 2022. Retrieved 2022-05-07.
  6. ^ "Peter Obi resigns from PDP: Former Anambra state govnor tok why e withdraw from di Peoples Democratic Party presidential primaries". BBC News Pidgin. BBC. Archived from the original on 17 January 2023. Retrieved 15 June 2022.
  7. ^ "PDP, Peter Obi and the corrupt system". The Guardian Nigeria News. 2022-06-08. Archived from the original on 10 June 2022. Retrieved 2022-06-10.
  8. ^ Akintade, Adefemola (2022-05-25). "EXCLUSIVE: Peter Obi dumps PDP, pulls out of presidential primaries". Peoples Gazette. Archived from the original on 25 May 2022. Retrieved 25 May 2022.
  9. ^ "Like France's Macron, How The Peter Obi Wave Can Sweep Labour Party To Power In Nigeria, Retiring PDP/APC | The Oasis Reporters". 2022-06-20. Archived from the original on 30 July 2022. Retrieved 2022-07-30.
  10. ^ "Peter Obi and Macron magic". The Sun Nigeria. 2022-06-26. Archived from the original on 30 July 2022. Retrieved 2022-07-30.
  11. ^ "The Macron Like Revolution That Might Make Peter Obi President, By Onwuasoanya FCC Jones". Emporium Reporters. 21 June 2022. Archived from the original on 21 June 2022. Retrieved 2022-07-30.
  12. ^ "Can Nigeria's Peter Obi ride his newfound momentum all the way to presidency?". France 24. 2023-02-20. Archived from the original on 27 February 2023. Retrieved 2023-02-27. As an ex-banker who wants to smash through the old two-party system and reinvigorate his country with a technocratic style of politics, Obi has prompted comparisons to French President Emmanuel Macron – who described himself as "neither left nor right", created his own political party and swept aside the traditional vehicles of social democracy and conservatism when he took the Élysée Palace and then won a crushing parliamentary majority in 2017.
  13. ^ "Peter Obi: President Macron's Visit Is A Good Omen". News Rangers. 2018-07-05. Archived from the original on 30 July 2022. Retrieved 2022-07-30.
  14. ^ "Peter Obi shakes up the political class". www.africa-confidential.com. Archived from the original on 30 July 2022. Retrieved 2022-07-30.
  15. ^ Online, Tribune (2022-07-04). "The rise of populism in Nigeria's political landscape". Tribune Online. Archived from the original on 6 July 2022. Retrieved 2022-07-30.
  16. ^ "'Obidients' hail Peter Obi's massive welcome at Dunamis". Punch Newspapers. 2022-07-30. Archived from the original on 30 July 2022. Retrieved 2022-07-30.
  17. ^ a b "Is Peter Obi and 'Obidients' really ready?". Daily Trust. 2022-07-20. Archived from the original on 28 July 2022. Retrieved 2022-07-30.
  18. ^ "Peter Obi: The Labour Party candidate electrifying young Nigerians". BBC News. 5 July 2022. Archived from the original on 5 July 2022. Retrieved 2022-07-05.
  19. ^ "How the #EndSARS Generation Is Trying to Revolutionise Nigeria". www.vice.com. 2 August 2022. Archived from the original on 5 September 2022. Retrieved 2022-09-05.
  20. ^ Isiguzo, Chukwurah Destiny (2022-07-10). "The Obi-dients and new political consciousness of Nigerian youths". Businessday NG. Archived from the original on 4 September 2022. Retrieved 2022-09-04.
  21. ^ "The Obi-dients and new political consciousness of Nigerian youths". Businessday NG. 2022-07-10. Archived from the original on 4 September 2022. Retrieved 2022-09-04.
  22. ^ "Peter Obi: The Labour Party candidate electrifying young Nigerians". BBC News. 2022-07-05. Archived from the original on 5 July 2022. Retrieved 2022-10-05.
  23. ^ "Peter Obi's supporters ground Makurdi with 'One-Million-Man Obitrek, We Are the Structure' march". 27 August 2022. Archived from the original on 3 September 2022. Retrieved 3 September 2022.
  24. ^ "One million man March: Peter Obi supporters shut Nasarawa". 6 August 2022. Archived from the original on 3 September 2022. Retrieved 3 September 2022.
  25. ^ "2023: Youth march in Port Harcourt in support of Peter Obi". 27 August 2022. Archived from the original on 3 September 2022. Retrieved 3 September 2022.
  26. ^ "Two million-man march for Obi grounds Enugu". 10 September 2022. Archived from the original on 11 September 2022. Retrieved 11 September 2022.
  27. ^ "Women more inclined towards presidency of Peter Obi – Oby Ezekwesili". Vanguard News. 2022-12-11. Archived from the original on 11 December 2022. Retrieved 2022-12-11.
  28. ^ "I Am 'Standing In' As Vice Presidential Candidate Of Labour Party – Doyin Okupe". Channels TV. 17 June 2022. Archived from the original on 14 August 2022. Retrieved 23 August 2022.
  29. ^ "Peter Obi coming under increased pressure to pick Shehu Sani as his running mate". Nigerian Watch Newspaper. Archived from the original on 4 September 2022. Retrieved 2022-09-04.
  30. ^ "Peter Obi announces Datti Baba-Ahmed as running mate". The Sun. 8 July 2022. Archived from the original on 30 July 2022. Retrieved 30 July 2022.
  31. ^ Burke, Jason (2023-03-01). "Nigeria's ruling party candidate Tinubu wins presidential election – electoral commission". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Archived from the original on 1 March 2023. Retrieved 2023-03-01.
  32. ^ "Bola Tinubu's Nigeria election win: The rigging claims of Peter Obi and Atiku Abubakar". BBC News. 2023-03-01. Archived from the original on 8 March 2023. Retrieved 2023-03-08.
  33. ^ "Third-party candidate Peter Obi to challenge Nigeria election result". The Guardian. 2023-03-02. Archived from the original on 7 March 2023. Retrieved 2023-03-01.
  34. ^ Madowo, Nimi Princewill, Bethlehem Feleke, Larry (2023-03-02). "Peter Obi vows to challenge Nigerian election result: 'We won and we will prove it'". CNN. Archived from the original on 8 March 2023. Retrieved 2023-03-08.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  35. ^ "Pandora Papers: I don't own more than $15m in offshore account –Peter Obi". The Sun Nigeria. 2021-10-12. Archived from the original on 1 March 2022. Retrieved 2022-03-01.
  36. ^ a b Adebayo, Taiwo-Hassan (4 October 2021). "Pandora Papers: Inside Peter Obi's secret businesses — and how he broke the law". Premium Times. Archived from the original on 4 October 2021. Retrieved 5 October 2021.
  37. ^ "Peter Obi: I Resigned from 11 Companies when I Became Governor". 11 October 2021. Archived from the original on 30 September 2022. Retrieved 13 July 2022.
  38. ^ Abdulsalam, Hassan (7 October 2021). "PANDORA PAPERS: Peter Obi reacts, tries to mislead Nigerians". Premium Times. Archived from the original on 8 October 2021. Retrieved 8 October 2021.
  39. ^ Adewole, Segun (11 October 2021). "Pandora Papers: How I made money —Peter Obi". The Punch. Archived from the original on 1 May 2022. Retrieved 1 May 2022.
  40. ^ Adebayo, Taiwo-Hassan (17 October 2021). "Pandora Papers: EFCC summons Peter Obi". Premium Times. Archived from the original on 18 October 2021. Retrieved 18 October 2021.
  41. ^ "Peter Obi sends loving message to wife on birthday". Daily Trust. Abuja, Nigeria. 10 September 2022. Retrieved 2023-09-16.
  42. ^ Times, Premium (2022-06-18). "Peter Obi, the Obi-dient army and the audacity of hope, By Osmund Agbo". Premium Times Nigeria. Archived from the original on 6 August 2022. Retrieved 2022-08-06.
  43. ^ "Polio Eradication: Bill Gates' Foundation Names Obi Best Governor In Nigeria". www.channelstv.com. Archived from the original on 16 April 2022. Retrieved 2022-06-10.
  44. ^ "LBSAA honours Obi, Others at President's Dinner - Lagos Business School". 9 June 2014. Archived from the original on 17 January 2023. Retrieved 30 July 2022.
  45. ^ "Peter Obi bags Golden Merit Award •Why we honoured him —Nigerian Library Association". News Express Nigeria Website. Archived from the original on 17 January 2023. Retrieved 2022-08-06.
  46. ^ "My Papal knighthood exceptional —Obi". Vanguard News. 2014-12-21. Archived from the original on 4 June 2022. Retrieved 2022-06-04.
  47. ^ "Peter Obi as Governor of the Decade". The Sun Nigeria. 2020-01-26. Archived from the original on 14 April 2022. Retrieved 2022-06-10.
  48. ^ "Peter Obi emerges 2022 'Man of the Year'". 15 August 2022. Archived from the original on 17 August 2022. Retrieved 17 August 2022.

Sources[edit]

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