Political Sentiments in Nigeria Have Shifted Since 2023 Elections says NNPP Publicity Secretary

The National Publicity Secretary of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), Mr. Ladipo Johnson, has provided insights into the recent meeting between former President Olusegun Obasanjo and the party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Rabiu Kwankwaso.

Speaking during an interview with RadioNow, Mr. Johnson said the discussions centred on national issues, including strategies to improve governance and advance Nigeria’s development.

“To see that one or two newspapers over the weekend talk about some opposition party either being in disarray or needing help or having to come together. These are early days, you quite understand, but by May 29th, next year, we all pray to be alive. This administration would have reached mid-term and then it would behove on every political leader or strategist to look at where we are economically, politically, etc.And permutations and moves begin to happen towards 2027. It’s a natural calendar thing regarding politics. So it’s just, I think, the beginning of politicking, as we say.”

When questioned about Obasanjo’s previous endorsement of Peter Obi over Kwankwaso during the 2023 elections, Mr. Johnson noted that political sentiments in the country have evolved significantly since then.

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“What you must understand is that politics and decisions are determined by the sentiments of the people at a particular time. In pre-2023, the sentiments were definitely on the side of the presidency rotating southward, as it were. And of course, Babao Basanjo openly supported through his weight behind former Governor Peter Obi. That’s fine. The sentiments in the country at the moment might have shifted, especially in the entire northern Nigeria, might have shifted because it is an open secret that a lot of them feel that this administration has not done well for the country, not just for the northern part of the country.”

He further touched on Nigeria’s leadership rotation practice, asserting that it often appears to favour the southern region. 

“Some have said that yes, it still has to be a southerner, looking at rotation, but some are also saying, because I go around the country, some are saying that if you look at the eight years of Obasanjo, six years of President Jonathan, and then eight years of Buhari, and those two years of Yadwa, that okay, and then of course, the four years of President Bolotinundu, that you see that it skewed towards the southern part of the country. Exactly. So you see all those things will come and it will be interesting as we go ahead.But for me, it’s about not the amount of years spent, but the competence and what have you in government. And this administration still has two years thereafter to convince Nigerians that the policies and whatever they have in the interests of Nigerians.”

The meeting, held at Obasanjo’s residence in Abeokuta, also included former Cross River State Governor Donald Duke.