By Valentine Obienyem
One of the arguments often weaponised against Mr. Peter Obi is the claim that he once publicly declared he would never leave APGA, yet later abandoned the party. But before accepting that narrative, one must ask: did Obi truly leave APGA, or did APGA, through betrayal and internal sabotage, abandon him? Perhaps, Chief Willie Obiano should open up on this. When the very ideals that held a political association together are eroded, is departure an act of disloyalty – or of principle?
Even if, for the sake of argument, we accept the accusation against Mr. Peter Obi as true, we must begin with a fundamental premise: he is human. In reflecting on the tension between lofty ideals and human fallibility, Will Durant once wrote, “Not even Achilles could live up to all his words.”
Achilles – Homer’s unmatched warrior, the embodiment of strength, courage, and heroic pride – still fell short of his promises. If even such a figure, immortalised in myth and elevated beyond ordinary men, could not fulfill every word he spoke, how much more the rest of us, who contend daily with the limitations of time, context, and mortality?
To demand flawlessness from any human being is to misunderstand both history and human nature. What matters most is not the occasional stumble, but the overall arc of one’s journey.
If Nigerian leadership were measured by fulfilled promises, and history rewritten with fairness, when others honoured barely 20% or not at all of their commitments, Mr. Obi delivered over 90% of his promises and in fidelity to his words. That record, marked by consistency, prudence, and a deep moral compass, places him in a class of his own. He may not be perfect – but in a society thirsty for integrity, he remains a beacon within the sphere of trust that a people can justifiably believe in.
The foregoing is simple: if not even Achilles could live up to all his words, why must we condemn Obi for failing – if at all – in only a few where those accusing him failed 100%?
On the video where Mr. Peter Obi said he would not leave APGA, this is better understood in the context of the statement itself and the time it was made. Did he not finish his two terms as Governor under APGA, even when immense pressure and lucrative offers came from dominant national parties? That alone speaks to his uncommon loyalty and discipline.
Those posting such inanities are not acting out of concern for integrity; they are fundamentally enemies of Obi’s political growth and promise. They wish he had remained static, politically provincial, and tied to a structure that had outlived its usefulness in projecting a national vision. But leadership is not about stubborn attachment to platforms—it is about advancing the greater good, using the most effective means available, especially after clear indications that one is no longer wanted.
If Obi had remained in APGA, would he have become the national voice of conscience he is today? The very people criticising him for leaving would have dismissed him as irrelevant. Growth demands change – and Obi changed platform, not principles. Those who fail to see this either do not understand politics or are deliberately dishonest.
But here is something curious: have you noticed, from Mr. Bayo Onanuga’s recent statements and social media posts, that he is certainly working in close coordination with elements in Awka?
