Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, representing Abia South, has claimed that Nigeria would be in a better position today if Peter Obi, the Labour Party candidate in the 2023 presidential election, had won. In an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today, Abaribe criticized the current administration under President Bola Tinubu, particularly highlighting what he sees as an increase in nepotism.
Abaribe argued that under Obi’s leadership, the country would not have witnessed the level of nepotism that he associates with the Tinubu government. He pointed to the appointment of four ministers from Ogun State alone as an example of the president’s favoritism toward certain regions, a practice he believes was worsened by the continuation of similar tactics from former President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.
The senator also remarked that rather than relying on the federal government to address the concerns of the South-East, the region should take the initiative to improve its own situation. He expressed frustration with the lack of fairness toward the South-East under past administrations, pointing out that only Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo and Goodluck Jonathan had been more inclusive toward the region.
Additionally, Abaribe commented on the arrest of Simon Ekpa, a Finland-based Biafra agitator, describing it as a positive development. He stated that Ekpa’s arrest would send a strong message to those inciting violence in the South-East, especially those using Kanu’s name. Abaribe expressed his belief that the release of Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), could help bring an end to the violence in the region, as many of the violent actors are reportedly doing so in his name.
