The popularity of Peter Obi and the Labour Party is predicated on the assumption that Obi is different from our regular politicians and public office holders.
His frugal and modest disposition sold him to an extent to his audience and supporters; this is a great feat we must applaud. For long, Nigeria has remained a cash cow for lavish and luxurious office holders; there are fewer individuals with modesty in them, but with Peter Obi, things are expected to change, as was sold to us.
Many of the people elected on the platform of the Labour Party to both State and National Assemblies were believed to have the mindset and modesty of Peter Obi, if this is anything truth, then the reforms we longed for may have arrived.
I would be convinced that truly, the Labour Party would lead the pathway for the new Nigeria they have preached so much about, and such would begin by having National Assembly lawmakers elected on the platform of the Labour Party “reject” exotic cars and exorbitant wages and allowances earmarked for our lawmakers, which have to a large extent remained our bane as a society yearning for development.
A New Nigeria will only be possible when a few take exceptions and decide to do things differently than the regular way, which would automatically disrupt the status quo and lead to a systemic turnaround.
We would be doomed if Labour Party parliamentarians joined the long line of those who shared our meager collective patrimony in order to satisfy their greed and bad yearning for luxury at the expense of the most vulnerable. Obviously, the laborers efforts would be in vain.
Peter Obi has talked so much about his desire for reforms, and he has had the opportunity to begin. We hope to see a reflection on those elected on his platform, as anything contrary would label the Labour Party as the twin to other political parties they have stereotyped so much.
If you drive in exotic cars when you constituents are yet to have access to basic amenities, then you’re worse than those you have demonised.
- Uloka Chukwubuike
