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By our reporter
Kassim Afegbua, a loyalist of President Bola Tinubu and member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has issued a strong critique of Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi. In a widely circulated opinion piece titled “2027, Peter Obi and His Chichidodo Politics,” Afegbua described Obi as a political figure whose public image does not align with his record, and claimed he is unfit to lead Nigeria.
Using a metaphor drawn from Ghanaian literature, Afegbua likened Obi to the “Chichidodo bird,” which detests filth but feeds on maggots. He argued that Obi projects himself as a model of integrity and simplicity while allegedly engaging in actions that contradict this image.
Afegbua criticized Obi’s time as Governor of Anambra State, citing prolonged strikes by doctors and teachers, failure to conduct local government elections, and a governance style he described as overly centralized. He also questioned Obi’s emphasis on state savings, suggesting it came at the cost of critical services and human lives.
Further, Afegbua dismissed Obi’s recent philanthropic acts as political theater, accusing him of using donations and public appearances to boost his popularity. He challenged Obi’s claims of living a minimalist lifestyle, arguing that his public image has been carefully curated for political appeal.
He concluded by calling on Obi to apologize to those affected by policies during his time in office and questioned why no former aides or political associates have come forward to publicly support him.
Afegbua’s piece reflects early political maneuvering as Nigeria heads toward the 2027 general elections, and signals an attempt by APC voices to challenge Obi’s growing influence among a segment of the electorate.
