News
Peter Obi: The Daura plot that failed
Why does Reno Omokri, appear so inconsolable? Since the conclusion of the burial of Muhammadu Buhari, President, 2015-2023, on Tuesday, he has been all and about the social media, displaying the disposition of someone who was unfortunate enough to be rubbed by agbara – that dangerous fruit, found in the forest, which contact with the skin causes great itching and discomfort to its ill-fated victim.
Forget that he has become so engrossed with Peter Obi for a long time now that he has now been named in some quarters as Minister of Peter Obi Affairs, his posturing in the last 24 hours has been replete with some strange verve and frenzy that could only be attributed to serious and undiluted frustration. The question, is why?
Within that period, he has dished out more than three statement – all pointing to one subject matter – Obi’s absence at the funeral of Buhari, the former military Head of State who later became the 15th leader of Nigeria, after his passing in a London on Sunday.
This morning, he upped the ante with a fresh, mocking claim, that it was because there was no food to be served at the funeral event that made him decide to be absent – in apparent reference to the video, which showed Obi serving food last week at charity event organised by the Catholic Church in Imo State. See the frustration, witness the high degree and depth of his pain!
Come to think of it, Obi has more than enough reasons not to attend Buhari’s funeral. Such reasons are either cultural or political or both. In Igbo land, funerals are not only cultural, but highly spiritual. Indeed, the spiritual aspect is so fundamental and strong that any form of disobedience to its dictates could be fatal. Let me explain.
If my father dies and a friend of mine doesn’t come to pay me condolences, I’m constrained to return the same treatment if his own father dies. It doesn’t matter the bond between us. In other words, condolences to the bereaved is a debt to be paid or repaid. Again, if you did not take a cow to my father’s burial, I must not come to yours with one, and if he did, no matter how long it takes me to gather enough resources to reciprocate the gesture, it is an obligation that must be fulfilled. It must not be ignored.
Now, how does this relate? I’m aware that Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, the late Ikemba Nnewi, a senior military officer of the Nigerian Army, who before his stint with Biafra, must have commanded Buhari’s commanders, if not him directly, was given a state burial, after he died in 2010, the same way the late former President was given on Tuesday. I don’t recall seeing Buhari or most of the people who were in Daura, his community in Katsina at that event.
Obi was the governor at the time the event took place under former President Goodluck Jonathan. In other words, he was the chief mourner that took the condolences on behalf of the state. So, on that score and added to the fact that Ojukwu was his political father, Obi, could conveniently rely on that as an excuse not to be in Daura.
But even if it didn’t constitute a taboo for him to attend, on the argument that the late Ikemba was not his biological father, there is another cultural norm to cover his absence. ‘Uno onwu a-di erure, utu k’ona agba’ – translated – condolences don’t rot, but only grows moulds. What this means is that unlike a rotten item that becomes useless, you can clean off a mould on an item and still find it useful. In other world condolences or funerals could be deferred to a period of convenience. It doesn’t end in one day.
On the political side, Obi also has every reason to be antagonistic of Buhari. Who doesn’t know the role the late President played in cheating him out of the 2023 presidential election, which he clearly won? Buhari was not only an opponent but his silence to the crooked electoral process made him both an enabler and arrowhead of the manipulation that saw Obi come third from the obvious first position.
Outside that, who doesn’t know what Peter Obi represents in Nigeria’s political firmament today? Now, think for a moment what the situation could have been, if Obi was sighted anywhere near that event. The mistake most people make is to think that his cult following is restricted to the South. His appearance at that event would have provided the naysayers evidence of his deep and widespread influence.
Let me paint the different scenarios Obi’s cameo appearance either in Katsina or Daura would have caused. The first, would have been that the crowd of youths could have broken into wild ululation capable of causing a stampede, capable also of resulting into fatalities. That’s one.
The second one could have been that knowing his political leverage, the All Progressives Congress (APC) hunters looking for his leg to make pepper soup with, could have organised a befitting welcome party for him. For instance, they could have hired some urchins to pelt him with pure water or even some more dangerous items, just to prove a point that Northern youths hate him.
Again, given the high-octane security arrangements, particularly captured in the frenzy and the razzmatazz on display at that event on Tuesday, there is no gainsaying that some overzealous operatives, eager to please their masters, could not have taken it as part of their remit to embarrass him, either by restraining him from coming close to the centre of action or found an opportunity to physically manhandle him, as part of their security operations.
In that case, not only that nobody would come to his rescue, the APC goons, including Reno, would have gone to town with embellished tales of how he got what he deserved.
All these scenarios, were any of them to have happened, would surely have detracted, diminished and blurred the solemn nature of the event and distracted many people from appreciating its import, which is respect for the dead. Any of them would have made him the centre of discussion. Obi, will never allow himself to fall victim of such an outcome.
Indeed, a development like that would have created the sort of set-up Reno Omokri, Deji Adeyanju, Omoyele Sowore and other APC goons were waiting for to feast on. But they have apparently been denied the opportunity. No wonder the whining and bellyaching.
Indeed, what these traducers appear to miss is that apart from Obi’s personal lifestyle and proclivities, he has been out there in the field for decades long before they were out of their dippers. They forget that even before breaking into the public arena as Governor of Anambra State, he had been there, crossing the proverbial seven seas and seven jungles and battling all the countervailing forces at the same time.
Someone who posts the record of constructing bank buildings and developing properties, engaging in multi-million businesses as a student, someone who sat on the boards of blue-chip companies, became chairman of a bank in his 30s and set the most historic records in his checkered political life as governor and later presidential candidate, cannot fall to the antics of minions like Reno, whose only calling is using the social media to hype or abuse people according to their pays or lack of it.
In other words, Obi, being overwhelmed or defeated by such antics, is akin to the proverbial crab, which swam across the mighty ocean only to end up in a woman’s soup pot. That Peter Obi, eventually showed up at the home of the Buhari’s less than 24 hours after the Daura staccato noise – in a quiet, unobtrusive and solemn manner – tells the whole story of who the master truly is in this game. Again Peter Obi, has won, just as I know he would!
My name is Sunny Igboanugo, I’m The Tiny Voice!
Succour came the way of the David Mark, following the restoration of his leadership of African Democratic Congress (ADC), by the Supreme Court, which removed the order by the Court of Appeal for parties to maintain status quo ante bellum pending the determination of its leadership crisis at the Federal High Court, Abuja.
The apex court, in a unanimous decision by a five-member panel headed by Justice Mohammed Lawal Garba, held that the Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal acted beyond its jurisdiction by unilaterally issuing such an order after it had already dismissed a case that was brought before it by one of the factions.
“Giving such an order in an appeal it had already dismissed was unnecessary, unwarranted and improper,” the Supreme Court held.
It held that the appeal that was filed before it by Senator David Mark succeeded in part, even as it dismissed the aspect that challenged an ex parte order the Federal High Court made for service of processes in the suit filed by aggrieved members of the party.
The apex court directed the factions to return to the trial court for continuation of hearing of the case.
It will be recalled that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had removed Mark and Rauf Aregbesola from its portal and website as ADC National Chairman and Secretary, respectively, on April 1, citing the Court of Appeal’s judgment.
The electoral body said it would, in line with the order for maintenance of the status quo ante bellum, not recognise any of the warring factions until the legal dispute is determined.
By Sunny Igboanugo
Between sports and politics, it is difficult to ascertain which is more potent in delivering the dividends of popularity. But in a situation where the two are combined, what is the outcome? It is predictable – a two-fold if not multiple-fold of that.
Evidence of that reverberated last Saturday, when the floors of the Eko Hotels and Suites, Vitoria Island, Lagos, shook to its foundation, with the rooftops almost caving in, while announcing the entrance of Jim Ifeanyichukwu Nwobodo – a man adorned with the garlands from the two worlds after striding through them like a colossus.
For many youngsters who had wondered why the entire atmosphere at the main hall of the prestigious hotel echoed with Jiiimmm – jiiimmm – jiiimmm, the answer was not farfetched. The man that had just walked in had etched his name in the hearts of the people in many ways.
For instance, his tenure marked Nigeria’s most glorious era in sports. Everyone reckons with the Super Eagles of 1994 as the best the country has attained so far in global football reckoning. That, no doubt could easily be attributed to the Nwobodo magic.
As Minister of Sports and Youths Development, it was to his name that Nigeria recorded two major prestigious trophies that put its image on the global sports map – the 1994 African Cup of Nations (AFCON), the second time Nigeria would lift it and of course the globally-acclaimed Atlanta gold medal in football at the 1996 Olympics in the United States.
In this glorious era, Nigeria found its name on the envious list of global sports – not only winning AFCON for the second time in 1994, appearing at the World Cup in the same year, becoming the number one in African football and number five in the world ranking it crowned it all with the spectacular Olympics feat, with the contingents coming home with six medals – two golds, one silver and three bronzes – the best performance ever.
Even his foray into politics had a large component of sports in it, having led then Rangers Football Club of Enugu, as Chairman to its first major continental trophy – the African Cup of Winners in 1977. It was his launchpad into politics so much that his name and face were already quite familiar with the people.
From position of the Chairman, Anambra branch of the defunct Nigerian Peoples Party (NPP), he got elected as the first Executive Governor of the old Anambra State comprising what is today, Enugu, Anambra and Ebonyi States.
In government that lasted from October 1, 1979 to October 1, 1983, he left a legacy that till date remains unmatched by succeeding governments – military and civilians – in infrastructure, education, hospitality among others.
Talk about the Nike Lake hotel, Nike, Enugu; old Anambra State Television, now split into Enugu State Broadcasting Service (ESBS) and Anambra State Television Service (ABS) Awka, Anambra State University of Science and Technology (ASUT), now split into Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT) Enugu and former Anambra State University of Science and Technology (ASUTECH) Awka, now upgraded to the Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK), Awka.
There were also the Ikenga Hotels (with branches in Enugu, Onitsha, and Awka); the Nnamdi Azikiwe stadium, Enugu; Eha Amufu College of Education; and College of Education Nsugbe, Nsugbe, now Nwafor Orizu College of Education, Nsugbe.
One of the most flamboyant politicians ever to strut the rostrum in Nigeria, Nwobodo, who cut the image of not only a consummate fashionista but one whose uniqueness stood him out among his peers, also made it to the National Assembly as Senator representing Enugu East in the class of ’99-2003.
Gifted with immense public appeal, with penchant to attract the crowd like honey to bees, the energy his entrance generated as well as the ululations at Saturday’s event, was only too natural and emblematic of a man used to stealing the show at public gatherings.
The spontaneous reactions were simply consequent upon which aspect of him impacted the motley crowd comprising the high and mighty. For those from the South East, many still basking in the reverberating echoes of the politics of pasts, it was still the iconic Jim that had just walked in – a hero, whose name still lit fires in their bellies.
For others, it was the entrance of the most iconic, most esteemed and most revered Igbo leader alive today. The language of the Ogene music and the electrifying performance of the troupe from the South East delivered that part of the message most clearly.
Others recalled the Jim Nwobodo, who as Minister, not inspired the resilience with which the Dream Team, Nigeria’s most of prestigious football team mesmerised the world including the duos of the almighty Brazil and Argentina and returned home with the gold medal from the Olympics and the fanfare that followed the outcome in the streets of Abuja to Lagos, Enugu to Kano and Port Harcourt.
Yet, many must have recalled the effervescent governor of the second republic in the league of progressives, made up of young, vibrant and visionary politicians of that era imbued with fresh ideas of how to move Nigerian into the league of developed nations.
But ultimately, many would surely see the figure that had just walked into that arena as one of the remaining political icons of the class of ’79 – in fact, one of the only two governors of that era still standing today outside Alhaji Awal Ibrahim of Niger State.
So, it was not for nothing that the crowd cheered endlessly as the ex-governor, ex-Minister and Senator made his grand appearance. Nobody would be in doubt that he deserved every bit of attention and recognition.
Any such doubts would be cleared not only by the deluge of ululations from the audience, sustained accolades from both the organisers and fellow recipients, but also by the quality of personalities accompanying the elder statesman, from his homestead, of course, led by Peter Mbah, Governor of Enugu State.
Now, how would this enchanting event have ended without introducing the angle of Pat Nwobodo, the delectable wife and soft side of the Jim brand. The goddess of the Nigerian stock market, financial guru and former Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer (MD-CEO) of Savannah Bank Plc was there in tow.
Standing by her husband to whom she had graduated beyond a wife, partner, an ally a friend, to the major pillar along the path of the build-up and along the twist and turns of politics, statecraft, completed the picture of the evening.
Indeed, The Vanguard Lifetime Achievement Award for 2025, would be added to the list of the various trophies hanging on the walls of this octogenarian politician, sports enthusiast and administrator, leader of men and material and statesman extraordinaire.
But it certainly would not end there. The greater laurel is the imprint of his legacy in the hearts of his admirers as was showcased by the crowd which welcomed him with that loud ovation. That would be the more long-lasting – the more enduring.
For as the sage himself told the audience, while appreciating the recognition – getting awards while one was in power, could be good – but getting awards outside power, remained the more enduring, because it emblemised good memories – the best legacy of man on earth.
The Supreme Court on Thursday, finally nailed the Seyi Makinde camp of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which also includes Bala Muhammed, Governor of Bauchi State, by nullifying the national convention held in Ibadan, Oyo state, on November 15 and 16, 2025, which produced Taminu Turaki as National Chairman.
Justice Stephen Adah, who read the majority judgement in a two-three split decision of the five-member panel of the apex court, dismissed the appeal filed by the camp, which had earlier lost at the Court of Appeal, for lacking in merit.
Adah, said the camp not only violated a susbsisting order of the federal high court which restrained it from proceeding with the planned convention, adding that such defiance of an existing judgment of the Federal High Court, delivered by Justice James Omotosho would not be condoned by law.
Berating the Turaki-led group for going on to another court of coordinate jurisdiction to secure an order, instead of going on appeal, the apex court described the move as an abuse of court process, adding that any litigant who engaged in the act of abuse of court process would do so at his or her own peril.
The majority judgment dismissed the appeal for lack of merit.
The Turaki group had asked the Supreme Court to set aside a Court of Appeal ruling that voided the convention for breaching a subsisting court order.
Through their counsel, Paul Erokoro (SAN), the appellants urged the apex court to uphold the convention and dismiss a cross-appeal filed by a rival faction loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
However, the respondents, including former Jigawa State Governor Sule Lamido, contended that the dispute transcends internal party matters and centres on disobedience to a valid court order.
Lamido had earlier obtained a Federal High Court injunction barring the PDP from holding the convention until he was permitted to contest for the position of national chairman.
Despite the order, the party went ahead with the exercise—an action later declared unlawful by both the trial court and the Court of Appeal.
The appellate court further ruled that the matter was not protected under the doctrine of internal party affairs and accordingly nullified the convention.
The apex court further held that political parties are the vehicle through which politicians get to public office, hence they have a responsibility to obey court orders in deference to the rule of law.
Stressing that once a party knew of an order of court, it was bound to obey it, the court held: “The conduct of the national convention of November 15, 2025, is null and void and is hereby nulled. This court will not lend its machinery to any litigant who abuses the process of the court. This appeal is lacking in merit and is hereby dismissed. Parties will bear their own costs,” it added.
Justice Haruna Samani, in the minority judgment he read, maintained, among other reasons, that the process of who runs a political party is the internal affairs of the party, and therefore not within the jurisdiction of the lower courts.
This position was also supported by Justice Abubakar Umar, who cited an earlier ruling of the Supreme Court, which states that any matter that does not concern primary elections of political parties is not a pre-election matter and therefore not justiciable.
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