Professor of Political Economy, Pat Utomi, has challenged the growing criticism directed at former Anambra State Governor and Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate, Peter Obi, questioning why the politician continues to attract intense political attacks despite finishing third in the 2023 presidential election.
Utomi believes the frequency and intensity of the criticism against Obi deserve closer examination, particularly considering that the former governor did not emerge as the winner of the last presidential contest.
The professor expressed his concerns in a post published on his verified X account on Saturday, suggesting that the hostility surrounding Obi raises questions that Nigerians should not ignore.
He argued that the political atmosphere surrounding the former Labour Party presidential candidate appears unusual, considering his position in the outcome of the 2023 election.
“There is no convincing explanation for why a candidate who finished third in the 2023 presidential election attracts this level of hostility from all directions.
“The intensity of the attacks raises questions that Nigerians deserve answers to. Perhaps one day, we will finally understand what really happened in 2023,” Utomi wrote.
Although Utomi did not mention any particular politician or political party, his intervention comes against the backdrop of recent comments by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Vice President Kashim Shettima and Senator Adams Oshiomhole, all of whom have criticised Obi’s political record, public statements or approach to governance.
The latest exchanges have brought renewed attention to the former Anambra governor as political activities gradually intensify ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Tinubu revisits Obi’s record as Anambra Governor
One of the latest criticisms came from President Tinubu during an APC political rally held on Friday at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.
Addressing party supporters at the gathering, the President questioned Obi’s handling of erosion challenges during his eight-year administration in Anambra State.
Tinubu used the opportunity to compare the environmental challenges faced by Anambra with the situation in Lagos during his tenure as governor, arguing that his administration confronted the threat posed by the Atlantic Ocean.
He also praised Akwa Ibom State Governor, Umo Eno, for his government’s efforts in tackling erosion-related problems.
In his remarks, Tinubu suggested that Obi had failed to demonstrate sufficient commitment to addressing the environmental challenges affecting his former state.
“He’s in one party; they called NDC, who is running for president; he ran away from erosion in Anambra State. He could not confront erosion,” the President said.
Tinubu subsequently highlighted what he described as his own achievements in Lagos.
“I, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, confronted the Atlantic Ocean; I tamed it for you. Umo Eno confronted the erosion in Akwa Ibom, and it’s working for you,” he added.
The comments formed part of the President’s broader political engagement with supporters of the ruling party as the 2027 electoral contest approaches.
Shettima questions Obi’s political appeal
Vice President Kashim Shettima also used the Uyo gathering to criticise Obi, arguing that the former governor had lost much of the political goodwill he enjoyed following the 2023 presidential election.
Shettima questioned the credibility of some of Obi’s public statements, accusing him of relying on inaccurate claims and exaggerated statistics to communicate his political positions.
According to the Vice President, Obi’s recent interventions on national issues have weakened his appeal among Nigerians, particularly those who previously considered him an attractive alternative in the country’s political landscape.
He suggested that the former governor’s public engagements were no longer generating the enthusiasm associated with his political movement during the previous election.
“And clearly this gentleman has run himself out of this race with his lies and bogus statistics. We warned him that he’ll get to that,” Shettima said.
He further maintained that Obi had failed to sustain the goodwill he accumulated during the 2023 election period.
“Peter Obi has clearly messed up and squandered away his goodwill; he no longer excites when he speaks these days. He draws suspicions; it’s too bad for him,” the Vice President added.
Oshiomhole challenges Obi over policy alternatives
Before the comments made by Tinubu and Shettima, Senator Adams Oshiomhole had also questioned Obi’s preparedness to offer a different approach to governance.
Oshiomhole, who represents Edo North Senatorial District, made his position known during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today programme on Thursday.
The former Edo State governor argued that Obi had not provided convincing policy alternatives to the decisions and programmes of the Tinubu administration.
He particularly questioned what the NDC presidential candidate would do differently if given the opportunity to lead Nigeria, insisting that political criticism should be accompanied by clearly defined solutions.
Oshiomhole also challenged Obi’s position on national security, arguing that Nigerians needed more concrete explanations of how he intended to address the country’s challenges.
He subsequently described Obi as a trader, using the comparison to argue that the thinking associated with commercial activities differs from the long-term considerations expected of a statesman.
“Peter Obi has not offered any alternative. I think it is you or someone else who asked him for security. What will you do differently? He said it’s in his heart,” Oshiomhole stated.
He added: “I’ve always said that Peter Obi is a trader; the logic of a trader is short-term turnover. A statesman that Tinubu represents thinks of the next generation.”
Obi’s 2023 Electoral Performance Remains A Political Reference Point
The debate surrounding Obi’s political influence is closely connected to his performance in the 2023 presidential election, where he emerged as one of the leading contenders despite contesting under the Labour Party.
According to the official results announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Obi secured 6,101,533 votes, finishing third behind Tinubu and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar.
Tinubu, who contested on the APC platform, received 8,794,726 votes to emerge as the winner, while Atiku secured 6,984,520 votes to occupy second position.
Despite finishing third, Obi attracted considerable attention during the election, particularly among young Nigerians and supporters who viewed his candidacy as an alternative to the country’s established political structure.
His performance also established him as an influential opposition figure, ensuring that his political activities and public comments continued to attract national attention after the election.
His subsequent move to the Nigeria Democratic Congress has further placed him within the emerging political calculations ahead of 2027.
Utomi’s intervention has now introduced another dimension to the unfolding political exchanges, with attention shifting towards the reasons behind the sustained criticism of the former Anambra governor.
While the professor did not accuse any individual or political organisation of coordinating the attacks, his comments suggest that the persistent attention directed at Obi deserves public scrutiny.
With political alignments and disagreements becoming increasingly visible ahead of the next general election, the exchanges involving Obi and prominent figures in the ruling party are likely to remain part of Nigeria’s political conversation.
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