Peter Obi in the Eye of Storm…
2 min read
By Chidi Omeje
HE Peter Obi is currently in the eye of a storm. A raging storm!
He is receiving an unprecedented backlash from his online supporters, especially those from the south east region, following his tweet yesterday, eulogizing Gen Yakubu Gowon on his birthday.
In the tweets which have since gone viral, Obi praised the former Head of State for his disposition to peace.
He used a lot of endearing words to describe the man who superintended over the gruesome civil war that claimed the lives of over 3 million Igbos.
Many of his followers, popularly called ‘Obidients’ openly disagreed with him, not only for sending Gowon some birthday wishes but for the complimentary words he used to salute a man whom they believed was responsible for the Biafran tragedy.
Some went as far as denouncing him and vowed to work against him in the next presidential election unless he took down the tweet.
As a matter of fact, the anger on social media is palpable and the reasons are not far fetched.
When I saw the tweet yesterday, I knew that it will be controversial.
I was not comfortable with some of the endearing words either. In my reckoning, Gowon is not a good man.
I thought that Mr Obi should have just stopped at congratulating the man on his birthday and wish him well, and not bother singing his praises or tinkling his ears.
But that’s just me thinking. I have no right to tell someone how to express himself.
I will, however, like to remind those who are up in arms against Obi for sending Gowon those messages that Obi is a mere mortal after all.
He is human, and like all humans, he is bound to make his mistakes; and that is if it was a mistake that he made in those tweets.
Secondly, those people who are angry should understand that Obi is not a regional player or an ethic champion.
He is a national figure. He has followers even in Gowon’s home town of Pankshin, Plateau State.
His followership cuts across all regions and religions.
He is a national figure whose statements and dispositions must inspire unity and love across the land.
He is man who is focused on getting the leadership of this country right.
And for those who are threatening not to support him come 2027 on account of a mere good wish tweet to a former adversary, remember that even Emeka Ojukwu, the late Biafran leader, reconciled with Gowon before he passed.
So, much as we are displeased with those endearing words he used in his goodwill message, we must understand that nothing frees the soul more than reconciliation.
If this is Obi’s way of letting go of the atrocities of the Biafran war, so be it.
