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By Kunle Oshobi:
My dear Egbon,
I write to you not as an adversary, but as a fellow Nigerian and your aburo (given our mutual Fiditi ancestry). It’s clear to me that you are deeply concerned about the future of our country and the direction of our political discourse, and these are sentiments that I share with you. Your recent statement on X regarding Peter Obi and the possibility of an Atiku/Obi ticket for 2027 compels me to respond, not in anger, but in the spirit of constructive dialogue that our nation desperately needs.
The Politics of Emotional Blackmail
Your assertion that Peter Obi accepting the vice-presidential slot under Atiku Abubakar would constitute “shameless self-denigration” is, with all due respect, a masterclass in emotional blackmail. By framing a potential strategic political alliance as an act of humiliation, you appeal directly to Mr. Obi’s personal ego rather than to the collective interest of millions of Nigerians yearning for competent leadership.
Is it self-denigration when experienced politicians set aside personal ambition for the greater good? Was it shameful when Lyndon B. Johnson accepted the vice presidency under John F. Kennedy, despite being a more experienced senator? Political maturity often requires difficult decisions, and your characterization of such pragmatism as degrading does a disservice to the very democratic principles you claim to champion.
The question we must ask ourselves is this: Are we building a movement around individuals and their egos, or are we building a coalition capable of rescuing Nigeria from its current trajectory? Your statement suggests the former, and this is precisely the kind of personality-driven politics that has kept our opposition fragmented and ineffective.
Sabotaging the Opposition’s Best Chance
Make no mistake, egbon, your intervention—whether intentional or not—serves to sabotage what could be the opposition’s most formidable ticket against the incumbent administration. At a time when Nigeria faces unprecedented economic hardship, insecurity, and a crisis of governance, we cannot afford to indulge in the luxury of ego-driven politics.
An Atiku/Obi ticket represents a powerful combination: Atiku’s extensive economic expertise, administrative experience, and political machinery, paired with Obi’s reputation for fiscal prudence, grassroots appeal, and connection with Nigeria’s youth. Together, they present a complementary partnership that addresses the broad spectrum of Nigeria’s challenges.
By poisoning the well of this potential alliance before serious negotiations have even begun, you are effectively doing the incumbent administration’s work for them. The greatest gift we can give to those who benefit from our current misgovernance is a divided, ego-driven opposition that cannot unite around a winning strategy.
The Burden of Truth: Atiku and Years of Propaganda
As a lawyer and human rights activist, you are trained to investigate claims, to separate fact from fiction, and to demand evidence before rendering judgment. Yet, your apparent opposition to Atiku Abubakar seems rooted in years of orchestrated propaganda and carefully fabricated narratives pushed by his political adversaries.
I challenge you, egbon, to apply your legal training to a thorough examination of the allegations that have dogged Atiku over the years. Investigate the sources of these claims. Examine the evidence—or lack thereof. Consider the timing of these allegations and who benefits from their circulation. What you will discover, if you are honest in your inquiry, is that most of these accusations lack substantive proof and crumble under scrutiny.
The politics of character assassination has become so normalized in Nigeria that we often accept narratives without demanding the evidence we would require in a court of law. Rumors become “facts” through repetition alone. As someone who has himself been subjected to legal persecution in recent times, surely you understand the danger of accepting accusations at face value without rigorous verification.
Atiku’s Economic Track Record: A Matter of Public Record
Let us turn to what is verifiable: Atiku Abubakar’s track record with Nigeria’s economy. The facts speak for themselves.
As Vice President from 1999 to 2007, Atiku was instrumental in Nigeria’s economic reform agenda. He chaired the National Council on Privatisation, which oversaw the liberalization of key sectors including telecommunications—a reform that has transformed Nigeria’s economy and connected millions of citizens to the global digital economy.
Under the Obasanjo-Atiku administration, Nigeria achieved debt relief, secured the Paris Club debt exit, and recorded GDP growth rates that consistently exceeded 6%, while achieving the highest economic growth rate in Nigeria’s history of 15.3% in 2002. Foreign reserves grew from under $4 billion in 1999 to over $47 billion by 2007. These are not matters of opinion; they are documented economic achievements.
Atiku’s understanding of economic policy, his commitment to private sector-led growth, and his network of relationships with the international business community make him uniquely positioned to address Nigeria’s current economic crisis. His policy documents and consistent advocacy for restructuring, fiscal federalism, and economic liberalization demonstrate a coherent vision for Nigeria’s economic renewal.
Why Nigeria Needs the Atiku/Obi Ticket
Our country stands at a precipice. Inflation is ravaging household incomes. Unemployment, particularly among our youth, has reached crisis proportions. Insecurity has made farming dangerous and travel treacherous. The Naira continues its precipitous decline. Our infrastructure deficit grows daily. We cannot afford another four years of policy experimentation and economic mismanagement.
An Atiku/Obi ticket offers Nigeria a realistic path to economic recovery and good governance. Atiku brings proven economic management experience, international credibility, and the political acumen necessary to navigate Nigeria’s complex federal system. Obi brings a record of prudent financial management, a connection to Nigeria’s frustrated youth demographic, and a reputation for accountability.
Together, they can bridge Nigeria’s regional, religious, and generational divides. Together, they represent a government of competence over incompetence, of vision over drift, of unity over division. This is not about personalities; this is about giving Nigeria its best chance at the future we all desire.
A Call to Responsibility
Egbon, your voice carries weight in Nigeria’s political discourse, particularly among those who hunger for justice and better governance. With that influence comes responsibility—the responsibility to build rather than destroy, to unite rather than divide, to pursue truth rather than perpetuate unverified narratives.
I urge you to reconsider your position. Apply your considerable intellect and legal training to a genuine investigation of the claims against Atiku. Engage with his actual policy positions rather than caricatures created by his opponents. Consider whether your intervention serves Nigeria’s interests or merely reinforces the ego-driven politics that has kept us bound in cycles of disappointment.
Peter Obi himself must make his own decisions based on what he believes serves Nigeria best. But those of us who claim to support good governance have a responsibility not to weaponize shame and ego to prevent strategic alliances that could rescue our nation from continued decline.
The 2027 elections will determine whether Nigeria continues its current trajectory or changes course toward economic renewal, security, and inclusive governance. The stakes are too high for emotional blackmail, unverified allegations, and personality cults. Nigeria deserves better. We must demand better from ourselves and from our leaders.
In Conclusion
I write not to attack you, egbon, but to appeal to your sense of patriotism and your commitment to truth. Nigeria needs a united, competent opposition. An Atiku/Obi ticket represents our best hope of achieving this. I urge you to investigate rather than echo, to build bridges rather than burn them, and to put Nigeria’s collective interest above individual egos—including your own preferences.
The choice before us is clear: unity and strategic thinking, or fragmentation and continued failure. I pray we choose wisely.
Your aburo in service to Nigeria,
Kunle Oshobi
Head of Strategy and Planning, the Narrative Force
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“In politics, unity of purpose in the face of existential threats is not compromise—it is wisdom.”
SB E-news.
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