Obi lacks capacity to lead Nigeria, says Kenneth Okonkwo
Kenneth Okonkwo, a chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), says Peter Obi, the 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), lacks the capacity to solve Nigeria’s challenges.
Okonkwo spoke during an interview on Arise Television on Wednesday, where he rejected claims that Obi would be greatly missed by the ADC after he quit the party on Sunday for the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC).
The former governor of Anambra, who joined the NDC alongside Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, former governor of Kano, cited “endless court cases and internal battles” as reasons for leaving the ADC.
However, Okonkwo dismissed concerns that the coalition would be affected by the exit, noting that in the last six months, the former governor has changed party three times.
“On December 30th, he was a member of Labour Party. On December 31st, he was a member of ADC. By May 3rd, he is a member of NDC,” Okonkwo said.
“I am sure if not for the restriction in the Electoral Act before the close of the registration or the membership time, I’m sure he will be a member of another party. That is his nature.”
He also questioned Obi’s suitability to lead Nigeria, arguing that his disposition showed avoidance of difficulty.
“How can a man who says he’s running away from challenges be able to face the challenges we are facing in Nigeria today?” Okonkwo asked.
“The Peter Obi’s temperament and his capacity is incompatible with the requirement of Nigeria of today. So, the ADC cannot possibly be missing anything.”
He maintained that before joining ADC, Obi’s political relevance had already declined.
“Recall that before he came to ADC in December 31st, his political career was already dead. He was losing his polling unit in his own state by the gubernatorial candidate that he chose by himself,” he said.
“So, recall that before he entered ADC, his political career was already dead. So dead that he could not even enter ADC from his own state, Anambra state.
“He entered ADC from Enugu state, my own state, where he believed that the toxic on the toxin will not overwhelm him.
So, ADC actually gave him a lifeline. Obi needed ADC. ADC did not need him because we were already moving on without him.”
Okonkwo stressed that he had predicted Obi’s exit from the coalition from the outset, alleging that the former governor has strong apathy for party primaries.
“He’s a man that has morbid fear for primary election. He has never been in one and he will not be in one until he finishes his political career,” he said.
“He became a governor, he entered into primary election, he failed and lost to Ralph Nwosu in APGA, and then he still managed to find the leaders to cancel that primary, and they still gave him the ticket. That was how he became governor.”
