The Obidient Movement has taken a swipe at former lawmaker, Dino Melaye, over his recent comments questioning the leadership capacity of Peter Obi.
In a statement released on Friday, the group described Melaye’s remarks about Obi’s presidential ambition as a misinterpretation of Nigeria’s current political reality.
While acknowledging Melaye’s description of Obi as a “fantastic Nigerian” and a “great man,” the movement said it strongly disagreed with the claim that the former Anambra State governor lacks the ability to unite the country.
According to the group, such assertions ignore the growing support among Nigerians for a new political direction and leadership style.
The movement argued that the notion that Obi “cannot unify Nigeria” or that “this is not his time” reflects the thinking of a long-standing political establishment that has contributed to the divisions it now claims it can resolve.
It further criticised the idea that the timing of a candidate’s leadership ambition should be decided by political elites rather than the pressing needs of the country.
The Obidient Movement maintained that the real question facing the nation is not whether it is Obi’s turn to lead, but whether Nigerians are ready to break away from what it described as decades of ineffective leadership, economic stagnation and national disunity.
Highlighting Obi’s political appeal, the group noted that the 2023 presidential election showcased his ability to attract support across ethnic, regional and religious lines.
It added that the coalition of supporters that rallied around Obi during the election signalled the emergence of a nationwide movement seeking unity and productive governance.
The statement, signed by the National Coordinator of the movement, Yunusa Tanko, read in part:
“We have taken note of the recent comments made by former Senator Dino Melaye regarding the presidential aspirations of Mr. Peter Obi. While we appreciate his acknowledgment of Mr. Obi as a ‘fantastic Nigerian’ and a ‘great man,’ his subsequent assertion that Mr. Obi lacks the ability to unify Nigeria and that this is not his time is a profound misreading of the Nigerian political landscape.”
Tanko added that the belief that political “gatekeepers” should determine when a leader emerges is part of the mindset that has stalled Nigeria’s progress for decades.
“For a vast and growing movement of Nigerians,” the statement concluded, “the question is not whether it is Peter Obi’s time, but whether it is time for Nigeria to finally break free from the cycle of failed leadership, economic stagnation and disunity. The answer is an unequivocal yes.”