Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, who represents Abia South in the National Assembly, has expressed his belief that Nigeria would be in a better state today if Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s candidate in the 2023 presidential election, had emerged victorious.

According to Abaribe, an Obi-led administration would have steered the nation in a more inclusive and equitable direction compared to what is currently being experienced under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s government.

During an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Monday, the senator criticized Tinubu’s administration for what he described as a deepening culture of nepotism.

He argued that Peter Obi’s leadership style would have been starkly different, emphasizing fairness and inclusivity.

“If Peter Obi had won, you would likely see a better Nigeria today.

First of all, he would not practice nepotism at the level we are witnessing now. It’s not in his character; that’s just who he is.

He would have led with a sense of fairness, not just for a select few but for all Nigerians,” Abaribe stated.

One of the examples Abaribe cited to support his claim of nepotism was President Tinubu’s decision to appoint four ministers from Ogun State, while several other states received only one ministerial appointment.

This, according to the senator, mirrors a trend that began under former President Muhammadu Buhari but has intensified under Tinubu’s leadership.

Abaribe noted that Buhari’s favoritism toward certain regions and groups was largely unchallenged, creating a precedent that Tinubu has seemingly built upon.

However, Abaribe was adamant that Nigerians, particularly those from the South-East, should stop expecting fairness from any president.

Instead, he urged people from the region to focus on rebuilding and revitalizing their communities.

“It is high time we in the South-East stopped waiting for the federal government to prioritize our needs.

We must take the initiative to make our region more livable, cohesive, and prosperous.

Relying on external fairness has not served us well over the decades,” he said.

The senator also addressed the arrest of Simon Ekpa, a self-proclaimed Prime Minister of Biafra in exile, in Finland.

Ekpa has been accused of instigating violence in the South-East from abroad, with his messages reportedly fueling unrest in the region.

Following his arrest, Ekpa reportedly denied being the so-called Prime Minister, further raising questions about his credibility.

Abaribe highlighted that Igbo leaders and communities have long condemned the actions of Ekpa and others like him, who, from the safety of foreign countries, issue directives that exacerbate violence at home.

He stressed that their influence has caused significant harm to the people of the South-East.

On the issue of violence in the region, Abaribe called for the release of Nnamdi Kanu, the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).

He argued that Kanu’s release would play a key role in de-escalating tensions, as many individuals currently causing chaos in Kanu’s name might cease their activities once he is freed.

“Kanu’s release is crucial. His prolonged detention has given room for others to exploit his name for personal or destructive purposes.

Letting him go will take away that excuse and could help restore calm to the South-East,” Abaribe stated.