Give Peter Obi and the Igbos a Chance to Rebuild Nigeria

By Frank Anagu | Published by SaharaWeeklyNG.com

In today’s Nigeria, one man stands out for his integrity, vision and track record; Mr. Peter Obi. Among all the political leaders in Africa today, Obi is seen as one of the most credible, honest and disciplined. Sadly, he continues to face tribal attacks and political opposition not because of what he has done wrong, but simply because he is an Igbo man.

Many of those fighting him are not attacking his ideas or his character; they are fighting his tribe. This tribal mindset is holding Nigeria back and dividing the people, even when the country is crying for real leadership, economic direction and national unity.

Let us forget the lies and tribal gang-ups and focus on the truth. Nigeria needs healing, and it needs a man like Peter Obi to start that healing process.

The Ghost of 1966 and the Burden Placed on the Igbo People. To understand this tribal hate, we need to go back in history (to January 15, 1966) the day of Nigeria’s first military coup. Till today, many Nigerians wrongly believe the coup was an Igbo agenda. The truth, as now confirmed by General Ibrahim Babangida (IBB), is that it was not an Igbo coup.

IBB himself made it clear in his official book and interviews that no single tribe was responsible for that military action. Unfortunately, the media and politicians of that time blamed it all on the Igbo people, placing a heavy burden on them that has lasted for decades.

This false belief led to hatred, marginalization, and violence against the Igbos. It has continued even now in 2025, as we see in how Peter Obi is being treated in the political space, not based on his performance or vision, but simply because of his tribe.

It is time to bury that lie once and for all. The Igbo people are not the enemy of Nigeria. In fact, they are some of the most industrious, peaceful and development-focused citizens of this country.

Labour Party Crisis: A Shameful Show of Selfishness. Look at what is happening inside the Labour Party, the political party that gave Peter Obi a platform in the 2023 elections. Instead of supporting the party to grow stronger and challenge the old ways of Nigerian politics, people like Julius Abure, Lamidi Apapa and Arabambi are fighting each other publicly.

They are acting like children in front of the whole country; dragging the name of the party in the mud. These are men who should be building a strong opposition party for the sake of Nigeria’s poor, but instead they are fighting over money, power and positions. What will they be remembered for?

Do they not realise that this selfishness is exactly what Nigerians are tired of?

Their actions show clearly that many of Nigeria’s so-called leaders put personal interest above national interest. This is not about Peter Obi alone. This is about the future of our country. Nigerians are watching and history will not forget those who betrayed the people’s hope for personal gain.

Northern Nigeria: Time to Return to the Spirit of 1960. To our brothers and sisters in Northern Nigeria, we say this with love and respect; it is time to go back to the drawing board where Nigeria began. It is time to remember the spirit of unity, mutual respect and national cooperation that our founding fathers had.

Do you remember the great alliance of 1937? That was when Sir Ahmadu Bello, the Sardauna of Sokoto and leader of the Northern People’s Congress (NPC), joined hands with Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, the secretary of the National Council for Nigeria and Cameroon (NCNC), which later became the National Council of Nigerian Citizens.

That partnership formed the very foundation of Nigeria. It was built on unity, love and the dream of a better Nigeria and that dream led us to independence on October 1st, 1960.

Where is that spirit today? Instead of working together like our fathers did, many politicians now promote division, hate and tribalism. This must stop. It is time for the North to reject those using tribalism for personal gain and embrace true nation builders like Peter Obi.

Peter Obi Is Not an Igbo Project, He Is a Nigerian Project. Let us make something very clear: Peter Obi is not an Igbo project. He is not running for office to promote one tribe over the other. He is a Nigerian project. He is a symbol of competence, accountability and transparency.

When he was Governor of Anambra State, he did his best in the state without borrowing money. Atleast, He paid salaries, renovated schools, upgraded hospitals and saved money for the next government. He proved that good governance is possible in Nigeria.

Today, the same old politicians want to stop him not because he failed, but because they fear change. They fear someone who cannot be bribed or controlled. They fear a man who speaks the truth and lives by it.

We the people must not be afraid. We must stand up and demand a new Nigeria. We must stand behind Peter Obi (not because he is Igbo) but because he is credible, focused and capable.

We Must Break the Cycle of Lies and Hate. The lies against the Igbo people have been exposed. Even before IBB published his book, many Nigerians (including Femi Fani kayode) continued to falsely blame the Igbos for Nigeria’s problems. These are outdated tactics that no longer work.

The truth is out. Let us not allow old lies to divide a new generation. We are wiser now. Nigeria’s future must not be built on bitterness, but on justice, fairness and truth.

A Call for Unity and Support in 2027. As we look forward to the 2027 general elections, this is a call to all well-meaning Nigerians especially our Northern brothers and sisters to support a leader who has the vision, the record and the clean hands to rebuild Nigeria.

Support Peter Obi and let us build the Nigeria our fathers dreamt of a Nigeria where:

Tribe doesn’t matter.

Religion doesn’t divide us.

Corruption is punished.

Youths have jobs.

Schools work.

Roads are safe.

And leadership means service not stealing.

This is what Peter Obi stands for.

Final Words: History Is Watching. Everyone fighting against progress today should know one thing, history is watching. What will you be remembered for? Did you build or did you destroy? Did you unite or did you divide? Did you stand for the truth or sell out for money?

Peter Obi is standing for the truth. He is standing for a new Nigeria. He is standing for all of us North, South, East and West.

Let us give him the chance. Let us break the chains of tribalism. Let us rebuild Nigeria together.

We Are Not the Enemy: A Letter to South Africa from One African to Another.

By George Omagbemi Sylvester | Published by SaharaWeeklyNG.com

There is a storm brewing on the southern tip of our beloved continent; one not caused by nature, but by man. In township corners, across social media reels and in political podiums draped in national flags, an uncomfortable message continues to echo: “Operation Dudula, Foreigners must go.”

Let’s ask the question the cowards will not: who really are the enemies of South Africa? Is it the foreign national who sells tomatoes on the street, or the political elite sipping imported wine while corruption ruins the soul of the nation?

In a recent viral Instagram reel, yet another South African citizen laments the presence of foreign nationals, blaming them for unemployment, rising crime and economic stagnation. The message is emotionally charged and undoubtedly reflects the frustration of the average citizen who feels abandoned, beneath this fiery rhetoric lies a dangerous illusion: that foreign nationals (especially African migrants) are the root cause of South Africa’s problems.

Nothing could be further from the truth.

The Real Source of the Pain. Let’s be honest: the pain South Africans feel is real. Youth unemployment is above 60%. Basic services often fail. Corruption, crime, and poverty are rampant. But who created these problems? Foreigners?

No.
It was the politicians who promised “a better life for all” and then built palaces for themselves. It was the corporate barons who loot pension funds. It was the system that failed to reform after apartheid ended—a system that now feeds on division to hide its incompetence.

Instead of holding the powerful accountable, the people are being told to look sideways; to blame Zimbabweans, Nigerians, Congolese, Somalis and Mozambicans. This is not just sad; it is intellectually dishonest and morally dangerous.

Divide and Rule: The Old Colonial Tactic. Repackaged, Let us not forget: the first Europeans to colonize Africa didn’t do so with armies alone, they did so by dividing us. Zulu vs Xhosa. Igbo vs Yoruba. South African vs Nigerian. They turned brothers into rivals.

Now in 2025, that same method is being repackaged. South African politicians (especially populists like Gayton McKenzie and others like him) use foreign nationals as scapegoats. They say “they take our jobs”, “they commit crimes”, “they’re illegal.”

Ask any honest economist and they’ll tell you that most foreign nationals in South Africa CREATE their own jobs. They run salons, spaza shops, taxi services, catering businesses, tailoring shops. They hustle, just like the average South African. They are not stealing jobs. They are surviving.

The Cost of Xenophobia. Xenophobia does not just hurt the foreigner, it stains South Africa’s soul.

In 2008, 2015, 2019 and again in recent years, we saw the brutal scenes: machetes drawn, businesses looted, people burned alive. These are not just headlines. They are human tragedies.

What did South Africa gain from these attacks? Did the economy improve? Did unemployment drop? Were the hospitals suddenly functional?

No.
All that happened was blood in the streets and shame on the continent.

According to a 2023 UNHCR report, more than 140,000 African migrants in South Africa live in fear of physical attacks. Children don’t go to school. Families sleep with one eye open. And for what?

To distract the people from the true cause of their suffering: failed governance.

The Pan-African Dream Is Dying. Kwame Nkrumah, Julius Nyerere, Nelson Mandela and Thomas Sankara all dreamed of a united Africa; an Africa without borders, without hatred, without tribal or national division. Today, that dream is being poisoned.

When South Africans attack Nigerians, Zimbabweans or Somalians, they are not protecting their country; they are burning down the very bridges we need to build the Africa we deserve.

Africa will never rise if we continue to fight ourselves. No nation can isolate itself into prosperity. We either grow together, or we collapse together.

Who Are the Real Criminals?
Let us talk about crime.

Yes, there are criminals among foreign nationals; just as there are criminals among South Africans, but every society has both SAINTS and SINNERS. You don’t condemn an entire nationality because of a few bad actors. That’s not justice; that’s prejudice.

Let’s talk facts.

According to the South African Police Service (SAPS), more than 85% of all arrests and convictions are South African nationals. Foreign nationals make up a very small percentage of actual criminals and even smaller when you factor in economic contribution.

Now let’s talk about white-collar crime. The biggest scandals in South Africa’s history ( Eskom looting, Gupta state capture, Steinhoff fraud, VBS bank collapse) were all masterminded by South Africans. Not a single foreigner was needed to pull off those billion-rand crimes.

So, again, who are the real criminals?

The Contribution of Foreign Nationals
Foreign nationals bring more than just their sweat and skills; they bring their cultures, their flavors, their music, their resilience. Nigerian doctors in Limpopo save lives every day. Zimbabwean teachers educate children in Eastern Cape. Somali traders bring goods to rural areas where no one else wants to go.

According to a 2022 report by the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC), foreign-owned businesses in South Africa contribute nearly R20 billion annually to the informal economy. That is not THEFT. That is VALUE.

Yet, many of them live under threat; discriminated against, demonized and harassed by both citizens and police.

A Message to South Africans. Brothers and sisters, I say this not with bitterness, but with love: WE ARE NOT YOUR ENEMIES.

We come here not to conquer but to contribute. We run from war, hunger and collapsed governments to places like South Africa because we believe in its promise. We believe in ubuntu; that African spirit that says “I AM BECAUSE WE ARE.”

Let us not allow fear and propaganda to destroy that spirit.

The solution to your suffering lies in BETTER GOVERNANCE, FAIRER ECONOMIC POLICY and YOUTH EMPOWERMENT; not in burning down a Somali-owned shop or blaming a Nigerian Uber driver.

A Message to African Leaders. We foreign nationals are not just victims; we are also failed by our own governments. Why do so many Africans risk their lives to flee to South Africa? Home has failed us.

So this is also a call to our own leaders; Nigerian, Zimbabwean, Congolese, Ethiopian: fix your countries. Stop looting. Stop silencing opposition. Stop selling out to foreign powers. Your failure forces your citizens to flee. And that exodus becomes fuel for xenophobia abroad.

Finally: Africa is bleeding from within. The hate we show each other only deepens the wounds left by colonialism and corruption.

South Africa, you are a giant (but even giants can fall) especially when they forget their brothers.

We must reject the politics of DIVISION and embrace the vision of UNITY. The future of Africa does not lie in border posts or deportation vans. It lies in the hands of young Africans, working together, respecting one another and rebuilding this continent from the ground up.

Let us rise; not as South Africans or Nigerians or Zimbabweans; but as Africans, together.

Written by George Omagbemi Sylvester
Pan-African writer, political commentator, and human rights advocate
Published by SaharaWeeklyNG.com

From Classmates to Changemakers: Olivet 1995 Yearset Shines at 30th Reunion

The air was rich with nostalgia, laughter, and celebration as the 1995 Yearset of Olivet Baptist High School, Oyo, commemorated their 30th anniversary in grand style. The four-day event, which took place from July 3 to 6, brought together old classmates and friends for a memorable reunion filled with fellowship, fun, and philanthropy.

The festivities kicked off on Thursday, July 3, with a heartwarming evening hangout at the Supreme Hotel, where classmates reunited after decades apart. Hugs, hearty laughter, and fond memories dominated the night as old friends reconnected and shared their journeys since leaving Olivet.

Day of Impact and Expression

On July 4, the Yearset took a more impactful turn with a series of activities aimed at giving back to the school and community. The day featured a Students’ Debate Competition and an enlightening Health Talk, alongside free medical checkups provided for students and staff.

The Muslim faithful also observed a reverent Jummat Service, while the afternoon was spiced with outdoor games and ended on a high note with a vibrant Variety Night, complete with karaoke, DJ sessions, and a live band.

Legacy Commissioned: Pavilion Unveiled

July 5 marked the pinnacle of the celebration with the commissioning of a newly reconstructed 160-seater Pavilion, a major legacy project gifted to the school by the 1995 Yearset. The structure was officially unveiled by Emeritus President Dr. Olusegun K. Ahmadu in the presence of Agbaakin Baba Adesope and other distinguished guests.

The commissioning event also featured cultural performances by the Olivet Cultural Troupe, an Anniversary Lunch, and an elegant Gala Night, where alumni showed up in glitz and glamour for red-carpet moments and jubilant dancing.

The National President of NOSA, Dr. Wale Okediran, was ably represented by the keynote speaker, Dr. Olusegun Ahmadu, who commended the Yearset’s unity and commitment to leaving lasting footprints in the school’s history.

The celebrations concluded on July 6 with a Thanksgiving Service at the school chapel. Songs of gratitude and prayers of hope were lifted as the 1995 alumni reflected on the journey of three decades and the bonds that still hold them together.

With this celebration, the 1995 Yearset has reaffirmed its place as a shining example of what alumni unity, vision, and purposeful giving can accomplish.