Some members of the Obidient Movement, a bunch that championed Peter Obi’s Labour Party presidential bid within the 2023 election, have endorsed President Bola Tinubu as their most popular candidate for the 2027 presidential election.
The members, who adopted a brand new title, “Batified Obidients”, introduced their choice at a press briefing in Abuja on Wednesday.
Adesina Fagbenro-Byron, a former director of Operations of the Obidient Movement, spoke on behalf of the group, saying its members concluded that Mr Obi, now looking for the presidency below the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), lacks the capability to steer Nigeria.
Mr Fagbenro-Byron mentioned the group had come to the conclusion that the calls for of governing Nigeria had been past Mr Obi’s preparedness.
“Looking back with clear eyes, we have come to see that the demands of leading a country as complex and demanding as Nigeria may have been beyond what Mr Peter Obi was prepared for. This is not to say he did not try, or that his intentions were not sincere. But it became clear to those of us inside the campaign that he was, in many ways, out of his depth without fully realising it,” he mentioned.
He additionally accused Mr Obi of failing to utilise the experience and assets of pros who volunteered their time and expertise to help his presidential marketing campaign.
“He did not seem to recognise the extraordinary resource of volunteers around him — professionals who had willingly offered their time, skills, and expertise, eager to help build something better. That vast pool of talent was largely left untapped. The opportunity was there. It was not seized,” he mentioned.
Mr Fagbenro-Byron added that the group’s choice was not motivated by bitterness however by its evaluation of Mr Obi’s management capability.
“We say this not with bitterness, but with a measure of sympathy for a man who found himself in a role for which he was not fully equipped, and who may not have understood how much support was within his reach. We gave him the opportunity. We gave him the encouragement. Some of us provided the resources. What we could not give him was the capacity he did not have,” he mentioned.
Why the group is backing Tinubu
The group acknowledged the financial hardship, insecurity, corruption and challenges going through Nigeria’s training and healthcare programs below Mr Tinubu’s administration. However, they mentioned that the president’s reforms had been regularly producing constructive outcomes.
“We saw his government begin, and we saw the regime of reforms he set out to deliver. We have watched those reforms with open minds. They have been difficult. They have been painful for many households,” Mr Fagbenro-Byron mentioned.
He acknowledged that starvation and the rising price of dwelling had positioned strain on households, whereas major healthcare and public colleges required vital enhancements.
“Terrorism and insecurity are a grave cause for concern. Corruption has not vanished. And we cannot ignore the millions of children who are still out of school — a crisis that threatens the future of our nation,” he mentioned.
Despite these challenges, he mentioned the administration’s insurance policies had been laying the groundwork for financial restoration and larger monetary capability for subnational governments.
Mr Fagbenro-Byron referenced the elimination of the petrol subsidy, elevated allocations to state and native governments, a decline in debt servicing as a share of income, stronger overseas reserves and easing inflation as proof of progress.
“We do not dismiss these realities. We live among them. Yet we have also seen a deliberate direction: the end of the practice of borrowing billions every year to keep petrol artificially cheap; higher allocations reaching states and local governments; debt service as a share of revenue coming down; reserves strengthening; and inflation easing from its earlier peaks,” he mentioned.
He additionally referenced the Electricity Act, which permits states to determine their very own electrical energy markets, and the Supreme Court’s affirmation of native authorities monetary autonomy as examples of reforms it thought of vital.
Mr Fagbenro-Byron additional pointed to the federal authorities’s scholar mortgage scheme and the enlargement of native fertiliser manufacturing as measures it mentioned might help financial improvement.
“The Electricity Act has opened the door for states to develop their very own energy markets. Local authorities monetary autonomy has been affirmed by the Supreme Court. Student loans are already supporting lots of of hundreds of younger Nigerians. Local fertiliser manufacturing has expanded.
“These are not finished victories. They are the foundations of a country that can produce more of what it needs instead of living forever on imports and artificial prices,” he acknowledged
Group adopts new title
As a part of its choice to help Mr Tinubu, former members of the Obidient Movement introduced they might change their title from Obidients to Batified Obidients and undertake the All Progressives Congress (APC) as their political platform for the 2027 elections.
“We are coming together again. We are former Labour Party and Obidient supporters. We are now shifting our support to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and adopting the All Progressives Congress, the APC, as our political vehicle for 2027, under the name Batified Obidients,” Mr Fagbenro-Byron mentioned.
He mentioned the group’s need for good governance and sustainable improvement drove the choice, including that it thought of Mr Tinubu and the APC essentially the most credible choice to proceed the nation’s reform agenda.
“We do not make this choice lightly. We make it because of our common goal: good governance and sustainable development for Nigeria. We believe that, at this moment in our national journey, President Tinubu and the APC offer the most credible direction, the most tested resolve, and the most viable platform to continue the work of rebuilding Nigeria,” he mentioned.
Group pledges mobilisation for Tinubu
The group mentioned it could mobilise voters and marketing campaign for the APC forward of the 2027 common elections.
It additionally endorsed Vice-President Kashim Shettima for a second time period alongside Mr Tinubu, praising his capability for teamwork and mind.
“Therefore, we unequivocally endorse President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for a second term. This endorsement naturally extends to Vice-President Shettima, who has equally demonstrated a huge capacity for teamwork and intellect, and who has so far largely dispelled the fears that many had about a Muslim-Muslim ticket,” Mr Fagbenro-Byron mentioned.
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He mentioned the group would attain out to former members, undecided voters and different Nigerians to hunt competent and inclusive governance.
He additionally pledged that they might work to extend the president’s electoral help, significantly in states the place opposition candidates defeated him within the 2023 election.
“We will register, organise, campaign, attend rallies, and vote for the APC and for President Tinubu in 2027,” he mentioned.
Mr Fagbenro-Byron acknowledged that not all former Obidient supporters would be a part of the brand new motion, noting that some had aligned with the African Democratic Congress (ADC), the NDC or the Labour Party.
“We may not be able to bring every Obidient onto this platform. Some have since moved to the ADC, some to the NDC, and some remain with the Labour Party. We respect their choices and wish them well,” he mentioned.
However, he expressed confidence that the brand new group would entice many former supporters of Mr Obi and assist the APC mobilise forward of the 2027 election.
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