Peter Obi: Kenneth Okonkwo’s replay of ugly history

Dr chike obidigbo (Osisioma)

I express my dismay at the recent de-marketing utterances of Nollywood legend, Kenneth Okonkwo, against the 2023 Presidential candidate of Labour Party(LP), and the very best Governor Anambra State has produced so far, Mr. Peter Obi.

Mr Okonkwo had, while announcing his severance of political alliance with Obi, alleged that the former Anambra State governor was too weak to protect the mandate given to him by Nigerians and failed to right the wrongs in LP.
Okonkwo, who gained the limelight when he acted as Andy in the premier home video film, Living in Bondage, had followed up his posts on X platform (formerly twitter) with television appearances in which he called on Obi, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and President Bola Tinubu, not to show interest in the 2027 Presidential election.
To my mind,it is painful that an emerging Igbo leader like Kenneth Okonkwo should taken to public denunciation of Mr Peter Obi,a respected national icon. It is regrettable that such verbal exuberances featured between Chuba Okadigbo and Rt. Hon. Nnamdi Azikiwe in the second republic could be repeated in this era.
I do not know if Kenneth Okonkwo has any personal grouse against Mr. Peter Obi, because what he said and the way he conveyed them left the impression that he was serving the interest of a yet to be disclosed paymaster.
Could Kenneth Okonkwo not have quietly crossed over to another party or another leader the same way he voluntarily left the All Progressives Congress (APC), to protest the Muslim/Muslim joint presidential ticket? Or still,could Kenneth not have sought audience with Peter to closely discuss his misgivings and put his suggestions across to him? Peter is one man I know who never believes he has monopoly of wisdom and knowledge. Peter listens,and considers.
Again,could it be that Kenneth was only trying to lay credence to suggestions that he was among those sent as moles to ambush the former LP Presidential candidate?
Okonkwo’s remarks were, to say the least, very distressing for a young man who was yet to stand for any election or participate in the complex art of political party management,
As a two times contestant in Anambra State governorship polls,I ll only advise Okonkwo that his political cap could never be feathered by his talking down on Peter Obi. Ndigbo will say that ‘nwata fu ogu egbo egbo,oche nogu nato ka nri’ When a child witnesses a separated fight,he will foolishly believe that fights should be sweet like food.

As Peter Obi has said, ‘our young people should learn the virtues of humility and circumspection. If Okonkwo feels that Peter Obi is too weak for his liking what stops him from taking up the gauntlet himself to repair Labour Party as the superman he believes he is?
By Okonkwo associating Peter Obi with weakness clearly indicates that he has no idea at all of who Okwute is. Peter has,as a result of several years of deep exposure and experience learnt the strength in humility, a feature still very alien to young people like Kenneth.

I am sure Kenneth would learn, in no distant time that serving as a presidential spokesman does not translate to expertise in leadership recruitment. When Kenneth presents his preferred candidate for the 2027 Presidential election, he should be prepared to tell Nigerians why he could not put himself up for the contest.
No matter how high or mighty Kenneth Okonkwo would grow or become in Nigeria politics,I will want him to always remember that the negative testimonial he ascribed to Mr. Peter Obi today have the capacity to diminish him beyond the clout he garnered through Nollywood make-believe showmanship.
I take this opportunity too, to call on all political commentators to spare a thought for the challenging socio-economic challenges confronting Nigeria today. The very fixation about Peter Obi and 2027 will only amount to shadow chasing and irrelevant chatter that could only serve to heat up the polity.
Our youths are suffering. As an elder statesman, I feel so ashamed and so disturbed at the legacy of greed and wickedness we are leaving behind for our coming generations. May God help us.