What If Peter Obi Had Become President of Nigeria?

What If Peter Obi Had Become President of Nigeria?

By Princess Olatorera Oniru

In the quiet thunder of Nigeria’s political soul, a question still haunts millions: What if Peter Obi had become President?

It all began with a generation demanding more in October 2020- the EndSARS movement surged through the streets of Abeokuta, Lagos, Abuja, Ibadan, Port Harcourt, and across Nigeria like a democratic wildfire. It was a revolution ignited by despair- masses of citizens demanding not only the end of police brutality, but a new political order. Millions, exhausted from injustice, united in unprecedented harmony, ready for change. For a brief moment, Nigeria’s future felt close enough to touch.

But the dream collapsed. Brutally. Devastating hearts and hopes around the world. EndSARS left behind a trail of grief, unanswered questions, and repressed protests. An emotional stab in the nation’s psyche. With no formal political structure behind the movement, its momentum was absorbed by Nigeria’s entrenched systems, and the hopes of reform shifted into the search for a savior.

Comes Peter Obi, a wealthy former governor with a reputation for government fiscal prudence, personal penny-pinching, populist connection and his popular quote “we no dey give shishi.” For many young Nigerians especially those devastated by unemployment, rising prices, and decades of corrupt leadership, Obi was a life savior in the storm. They called themselves the “Obidients.” Their loyalty wasn’t just to a candidate, it was to a symbolic disruption of Nigeria’s political oligarchy.

And the numbers proved it

In Lagos, long considered a stronghold of the ruling party, Obi won the majority of votes. In Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory, he led decisively. In Anambra, his home state, the support was overwhelming. Millions believe the election was a clear call for a new direction. So, what if Peter Obi had won?

The truth is hereby unrestrained

Had Peter Obi been declared President, he would have faced the same brutal economic landscape as his successor. An economy ravaged not just by the Buhari regime, but by over six decades of regression, in which he too played a part.

Let’s consider two major economic decisions under the Tinubu administration

Subsidy removal: Obi has repeatedly stated that he too would have removed the fuel subsidy. Yet this decision, made without foundational reforms, triggered unprecedented hardship and led to the untimely deaths of tens of thousands.

When more than 90 percent of the population already endures daily inhumanity, additional suffering is not leadership. It is negligence. Currency unification: Also likely under Obi.

This decision destabilized countless businesses. Since 2023, many top companies exited or scaled down: Bolt, Jumia Foods, GlaxoSmithKline, Kimberly-Clark, Diageo (Guinness), Holcim, Equinor, Pick n Pay SA, Okra, Lidya, ShopRite, and more. In the oil sector, Shell and ExxonMobil divested onshore assets.

Obi might have led with a softer tone, greater fiscal caution, and more relatable rhetoric, but the hardship would have remained. During his tenure as Anambra governor from 2006 to 2014, he was praised for budget discipline, yet the state continues to struggle with weak public systems, underdeveloped infrastructure, and one of the lowest GDP per capita rates globally. Despite his wealth and experience, Obi’s record does not reflect transformational national leadership.

Yes, a President Obi could have fostered more trust, better budgeting, and a renewed national spirit. He would likely have been better than Tinubu, but still, maybe not the transformative leader Nigeria desperately needs. Would he have rebuilt institutions? Revived professionalism in the civil service? Strengthened rule of law? Ensured equitable infrastructure nationwide? Maybe. But not certainly.

As we reflect on what might have been and what still must be, we must shift from political emotion to performance-based governance. The Obidients were right to demand change. But lasting change isn’t wished into existence. It is built. Nigeria doesn’t need another messiah. We need builders with bold blueprints, long-term vision, and a proven track record of patriotism, ethics, and deliverables.

As Princess Olatorera Oniru, leadership strategist and development economist, embarks on national engagements ahead of Nigeria’s next elections, she raises these reflections not to dwell on the past, but to challenge the future:

“Nigeria does not need another messiah. We need leaders with the courage to confront hard truths and the competence to deliver lasting transformation. We need visionaries armed not with branded personalities but with bold, executable blueprints for rapid national growth. The revolution we ignited in 2020 did not die with the silence of the protests. It lives on in every citizen still demanding justice, prosperity, and progress. EndSARS Aftermath was not the end. It was a beginning. And Nigeria’s next great turning point is imminent.”

Our next release will likely present an analytical spotlight on 2027 presidential contenders to empower citizens to identify the true giant for the Giant of Africa.

Olatorera Majekodunmi-Oniru is not running for President.