Peter Obi always shifty, ADC never felt his heart — Babachir

The recent political maneuvering involving Peter Obi has stirred significant commentary, particularly from figures like Babachir Lawal, a former Secretary to the Government of the Federation. Lawal, speaking on ARISE News, did not mince words in his assessment of Obi's political trajectory, labeling him as "shifty" and expressing doubts about his genuine commitment to the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

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Peter Obi joined the coalition after it had all begun for quite a long time. And let me tell you the history of it. He had always been somebody that is very shifty when it came to ADC. We never felt his heart was in it.

Lawal's critique stems from Obi's recent departure from the ADC to the Nigeria Democratic Congress, a move he attributes not to external suspicions but to an internal fear of competition within the party. This perspective suggests a deeper internal dynamic within the political landscape, where personal ambition and strategic calculations often supersede stated loyalties.

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And we went over backwards since we are a party that is broad-based, we want to carry everybody along to accommodate Peter Obi. I’ll tell you, at one time we just felt that he needed some encouragement to stay in the party, and we offered him to single-handedly bring the organising secretary of the party, who is at the heart of the processes of the party. We offered it to him. Bring it, whoever, whoever, whoever you want, we’ll accept him. We never extended that goodwill to any other member of the party. So you can see right from inception, we suspected that his heart was not with us.

From the vantage point of Nigerian political discourse, such defections and criticisms are not uncommon. Politicians often navigate alliances based on shifting objectives and perceived opportunities. Lawal's explanation that his prior support for Obi was a matter of aligned goals during a specific election cycle, rather than a steadfast personal allegiance, reflects this pragmatic approach to politics. It highlights how political partnerships in Nigeria can be fluid, formed and dissolved based on the prevailing political climate and individual aspirations.

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I don’t think it is suspicion. I think it’s fear.

This narrative, as presented by Lawal, offers a glimpse into the intricate web of political relationships and strategies that characterize Nigerian politics. It underscores the importance of understanding the local context, where loyalty can be conditional and political alliances are often transactional. The commentary serves as a reminder that political support is not always immutable and can evolve with changing circumstances and the pursuit of new political avenues.

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Everybody had his own route to get him there. It’s up to him. I was never a member of the Labour Party throughout the time I was supporting Peter Obi. It just so happened that at that particular time, in that election cycle, our goals, you know, merged, aligned, and we felt that we could support each other and pursue the same goal.