The Kind Of Things We Demand From Peter Obi, We Don’t Demand From Any Other Candidate-Dele Farotimi

Human rights lawyer Dele Farotimi has questioned the expectations Nigerians are placing on Peter Obi ahead of the 2027 presidential election, arguing that the former Anambra State governor is being judged by standards that other political candidates are not expected to meet.

Farotimi made the remarks during an interview on Channels Television, where he discussed the political atmosphere ahead of the next general election and explained why he would not devote his time to campaigning for the 2027 presidential race.

He expressed concern that Nigerians appeared to be placing excessive responsibilities on Peter Obi while overlooking similar expectations when assessing other presidential hopefuls. According to Farotimi, Obi is contesting for a political position and should not be treated as someone seeking to become a spiritual or moral leader for the entire country.

The lawyer questioned why some Nigerians appeared determined to establish Obi’s perfection before considering whether he could offer a better political alternative to President Bola Tinubu and other candidates.

In his view, the standards applied to the Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate were considerably different from those used to assess other politicians seeking the same office. He argued that political candidates should be evaluated fairly based on their intentions, positions and capacity to lead rather than subjected to unrealistic expectations.

Speaking further about the country’s political situation, Farotimi maintained that Nigerians were already experiencing significant difficulties under the current administration. He suggested that the realities confronting citizens should be enough to encourage them to examine the country’s leadership and consider whether a political change was necessary.

He also described the All Progressives Congress (APC) as an existential threat, expressing his dissatisfaction with the direction of the country’s political leadership. Farotimi indicated that he was unwilling to spend his time campaigning for people who were not prepared to think independently about the issues affecting Nigeria.

Explaining his position on political participation ahead of 2027, he suggested that Nigerians should take greater responsibility for their political decisions instead of relying on individuals to persuade them about the need for change.

Farotimi also warned that citizens would eventually have to live with the consequences of their decisions, actions and failure to act. His remarks placed particular emphasis on the responsibility of voters to examine political developments and make informed choices.

He further explained his position on Obi with a direct statement during the interview, saying, “Peter Obi, to my understanding, is running for a political office. He’s not running to become the spiritual head of Nigeria. The kind of things we demand from Peter, we don’t demand from any other candidate.”

His comments have brought renewed attention to the expectations surrounding Peter Obi’s potential participation in the 2027 presidential election, as political discussions continue over the candidates who could challenge President Bola Tinubu.

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