I Will Neither Work Nor Vote for the Obi of 2023 — Dele Farotimi

I Will Neither Work Nor Vote for the Obi of 2023 — Dele Farotimi

“I will neither work nor vote for the Obi of 2023. That version of leadership, however well intentioned, is no longer sufficient for the scale of Nigeria’s crisis.”

First, let us clear the noise. Responding to a question on X does not require writing an epistle or turning a comment into a manifesto. Not every opinion is a declaration of war. Sometimes, it is just an answer to a question. Nothing more.

I am not a politician. I supported Peter Obi in the 2023 election cycle. That election is over. Support during an election does not translate into permanent allegiance. I am not beholden to Peter Obi, Atiku Abubakar, or any other politician. Democracy does not run on emotional captivity.

The question I was asked was simple. Should Peter Obi have accepted a Vice Presidential ticket under Atiku Abubakar? I offered my opinion. That opinion should not be mistaken for bitterness, betrayal, or hidden alignment. It was simply my assessment.

Nigeria’s reality today is not the Nigeria of early 2023. The country has deteriorated further. Economically, socially, and institutionally, the decline is deeper. Against this backdrop, I am certain of one thing. I will neither work nor vote for the Obi of 2023. That version of leadership, however well intentioned, is no longer sufficient for the scale of Nigeria’s crisis.

If Peter Obi hopes to be relevant again, he must evolve. Nigeria does not need mild reformers at this stage. It needs a revolutionary leader who understands that the system itself is broken and must be confronted decisively. Anything less will not move the needle.

As for Atiku Abubakar, this is not personal. I do not harbour hostility towards him. But I cannot intellectually arrive at a point where I see him as the solution to Nigeria’s problems. In my view, he is an integral part of the structure that produced those problems. Experience is not redemption when history remains unresolved.

There is also an inconvenient truth many would rather ignore. I am not even convinced Nigeria will have an election worthy of the name in 2027. Our democratic process is under severe strain, and pretending otherwise is self-deception.

If Atiku truly loves Nigeria, legacy should matter more than ambition. He can support Obi or someone younger. He can help birth a better Nigeria without sitting in Aso Rock. History does not only reward presidents. It rewards patriots who know when their time has passed.

This is not an attack. It is a declaration of independence in thought. Nigeria’s future cannot be held hostage by past elections, past emotions, or recycled ambitions. The country has changed. Any leader seeking support must change with it.