Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe has expressed that Nigeria would have been a better country if Peter Obi, the Labour Party presidential candidate, had emerged victorious in the 2023 presidential election.
Speaking during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Monday, Abaribe criticized the current administration, accusing President Bola Tinubu of nepotism. The senator, who represents Abia South in the Senate, argued that such favoritism would not have been present under Obi’s leadership.
“If Peter Obi had won, you probably would have seen a better Nigeria than what we are seeing today. He would not be as nepotistic as this government. It’s not in his nature. He genuinely cares about all people,” Abaribe said.
He further alleged that the nepotism evident during Muhammadu Buhari’s administration has worsened under Tinubu.
“Buhari followed the path of nepotism, but it has deepened under President Tinubu because Buhari did it, and there was little opposition except from people like me,” Abaribe remarked.
The senator also called for greater focus on self-development within the Southeast, urging the region to prioritize building a more unified and livable environment rather than waiting for fairness from federal leadership.
“No Nigerian president, apart from Olusegun Obasanjo and Goodluck Jonathan, has treated the Southeast equitably. It’s time to go back to the Southeast, revamp it, make it more livable, and hold ourselves together,” he concluded.