In politics, interest is everything. Interests determine everything and once that interest is threatened, politicians engage in alignments and realignments to get their interests covered. When the idea of Obi-Kwankwaso was first mooted, one had expressed doubt on the workability of their alliance.
But again, when Rabiu Kwankwaso seemingly agreed to run with Peter Obi under the platform of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), there was a certain disquiet that pervaded the country’s political firmament in the not too-distant past.
However, after reading the political climate under the ADC and having rightly discerned that former Vice President Atiku Abubakar remained a formidable force within the ranks of the ADC, the Obi-Kwankwaso fell like a pack of cards, as Obi quickly jumped boat again, this time realigning with the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC).
The development got many Nigerians worried, having watched Obi’s movement from the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) under which he became the Governor of Anambra State, to the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), then the Labour Party (LP) where he contested the 2023 presidential poll and to the ADC and now NDC.
Not a few Nigerians have expressed concern over his frequent moves, arguing that he had a better chance with the Labour Party, but did not have the character to stay and build the party. For those in that school of thought, Obi has not shown the firm character that is required for the high office that he seeks so passionately.
To most Nigerians, therefore, the coming apart of the Obi-Kwankwaso alliance, which should have been the most formidable force to contend with incumbent President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, is an ill wind that would blow nobody any good in the sense that with the permutations and realignments, as well as the rudderless opposition, may just as well hand power to the incumbent for another term in office.
This is the focus of our lead story for this edition and it is titled: Obi-Kwankwaso Alliance Is Suicide Mission. At least that is the thinking of our interviewee and Coordinator of the Obidient Movement, Dr. Barry Johnson, who seems to argue that Obi’s frequent moves from one political party to the other is a disservice to Nigeria’s democracy, which like Atiku, may not favour him (Obi) on the long run.
President Tinubu’s penchant for what pundits have described as ‘reckless borrowings’ from the World Bank with the support and unwavering backing of the National Assembly, also caught our attention on the cover page titled: Criticism Trails FG’s Near-Election Borrowing.
Curiously, opposition figures have branded the President’s constant borrowings from the Breton Wood institution as a ‘Ponzi Economy,’ insisting that the huge funds the current administration had borrowed from inception was not commensurate with infrastructure development, just as Nigerians continue to dive deeper into poverty and economic hardship.
Equally compelling are reports on Tinubu’s anointing of Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Olufemi Hamzat as successor to incumbent Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, a charge from stakeholders to the Comptroller-General of Customs (CGC) Bahir Adewale Adeniyi against appointing a corrupt officer as Area Controller of Apapa Command and brewing rift between Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike and Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma over the re-election bid of Governor Siminalayi Fubara come 2027.
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