A Nigerian-born lecturer at the University of New York, Remi Adekoya, has responded to Peter Obi’s position on the opposition coalition ahead of the general elections in 2027 by analyzing how power is viewed in Nigeria and its implications for governance. Peter Obi is the Labour Party’s presidential candidate.CONTINUE FULL READING>>>>>
Obi, the Labour Party’s presidential candidate in the most recent general elections, clarified on his X account on Wednesday that while he is not opposed to coalitions, any alliance must put Nigerians’ welfare ahead of its own interests and not just be a means of gaining power. Obi responded to media allegations that, according to him, misconstrued his opinions from a recent interview.
“I have noticed that numerous media outlets misquoted my candid interview from yesterday, generating a misleading narrative that misrepresents my stance,” Obi stated. “I don’t oppose coalition. In actuality, I support it—not to seize power, but to set up Nigeria for success. I have never supported an alliance or coalition that does not put the welfare and advancement of the average Nigerian first, and I never will.
Discussions concerning Nigeria’s political climate have been triggered by his comments, with some people supporting his position and others contending that political power must be obtained before it can be used successfully. “Too often in our nation’s history, individuals and groups have come together solely for the purpose of taking power for power’s sake,” Adekoya said, quoting Obi. Nigeria might become the New Nigeria. However, it necessitates that we alter our perspective on power. The politics lecturer claimed that Obi’s viewpoint cuts to the core of Nigeria’s governance crisis, while acknowledging the political constraints that make power essential to change.
Some people could consider this abstract or even “naive.” Obi should quit “preaching,” according to others, because politics is all about power and without it, nothing can be changed. That has a lot of validity. However, he added, “I think it’s also true that what he’s saying goes right to the heart of everything that is hurting Nigeria so much right now.” The instructor from the US claims that leadership and governance in Nigeria are shaped by the conception and use of power.
“There is a distinction between people whose primary motivation is to wield power and those whose primary motivation is to lead. According to US political scientist James Burns, “power-wielders may treat people like things.” Leaders might not. This is a fundamental distinction, not a cliche, he clarified.
Adekoya also used the Hofstede Power Distance Index, which gauges how societies tolerate and defend power disparities, to connect Obi’s comments to more general cultural views on power. He pointed out that Nigeria had a high score of 80 on this test, indicating that hierarchical power structures are widely accepted there.
High power-distance societies hold that those in positions of authority should be treated with a great deal of deference and respect. People in these kinds of communities perceive strong people as having superior traits and frequently think that power hierarchies represent innate human disparities, he said. In order to strengthen their hold on power, Nigerian leaders frequently create tales about supernatural abilities or divine favors, he noted.
It’s not by accident that Nigerian politicians spread the myth that they are members of strong cults, possess a variety of supernatural abilities, and have the ability to “jazz” you to death or vanish. They are aware of the advantages of projecting an air of superiority over other people, Adekoya continued. The instructor expressed hope that Nigeria’s political culture is changing in spite of the deeply held beliefs about power. He gave social media credit for making it easier for younger Nigerians to challenge authority in ways that were before unthinkable.
The instructor expressed hope that Nigeria’s political culture is changing in spite of the deeply held beliefs about power. He gave social media credit for making it easier for younger Nigerians to challenge authority in ways that were before unthinkable. “I think the time is coming when people who are tired of living in a society where the powerful don’t seem to be able to provide a functional state will challenge not just the powerful Nigerians but also the norms of power in Nigeria.” “For what length of time can people accept failure?” he inquired.CONTINUE FULL READING>>>>>
