Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Gabriel Osa
In a recent media interview, Daniel Bwala, Special Adviser to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Policy Communication, sharply criticised Mr Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s (LP) presidential candidate in the 2023 election, describing him as a “character‑in‑chief” and dismissing his political style as mere theatrics rather than substantive leadership. The comments were made during an appearance on The Clarity Zone Podcast, hosted by media personality Chinedu Emmanuel, popularly known as Nedu.
Responding to a reported description of himself by Obi as a “character,” Bwala turned the phrase back on the former Anambra State governor, saying: “In the movie, the actor is a character. He is actually the character‑in‑chief,” implying that Obi’s politics are more performative than pragmatic. According to Bwala, Obi’s brand of public engagement sells a “fictitious picture of a reality that will never exist,” and the hope he offered his supporters has dissipated since his defeat in the 2023 election.
Bwala went on to accuse Obi’s supporters of resorting to aggressive social media behaviour after the election, arguing that leadership requires sacrifice and resilient engagement rather than what he termed “political theatrics.” He claimed that after Obi’s loss, his followers struggled to reconcile their expectations with reality and responded with online hostility rather than constructive political participation.
The exchange between the two figures reflects continuing political tensions since the 2023 general elections, during which Obi emerged as a leading opposition candidate before narrowly losing to President Tinubu. Bwala’s criticism forms part of a broader pattern of sharp rhetoric from some members of the ruling administration and its supporters toward Obi and other opposition figures, often touching on questions of leadership style, policy substance and political relevance.
Observers note that Bwala’s remarks are consistent with his recent public commentary on Obi’s political trajectory, in which he has accused the former governor of shifting political affiliations and lacking a clear movement or cohesive support base since the 2023 polls. Critics of Bwala argue that such characterisations oversimplify complex political dynamics and risk deepening divisions in Nigeria’s evolving multiparty landscape.
As the 2027 general elections approach, exchanges between political actors and their critics continue to shape public discourse, with former rivals like Peter Obi remaining central figures in debates over opposition strategy, party realignments, and Nigeria’s democratic future.
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