The Peter Obi Movement for Rescue (POMR) has rejected a recent claim by former Labour Party presidential candidate Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed that none of the politicians seeking to challenge President Bola Tinubu in 2027 can improve Nigeria.
POMR spokesman, Idris Zekeri Jnr, said Obi had the experience and record needed to lead efforts to address the country’s challenges, arguing that his performance as Anambra State governor provided evidence of his capacity to manage public resources.
Zekeri made the position known in a statement issued on Monday titled, “Obi Can—and Will—Rescue Nigeria Because He Has Antecedents.”
Baba-Ahmed had recently said that no individual, including Obi, could rescue Nigeria, while advising Tinubu to prepare to leave office but not hand over to the politicians currently challenging him.
Reacting to the position, Zekeri acknowledged the scale of Nigeria’s problems but said the country’s challenges should not be used to dismiss the possibility of effective leadership.
“Dr Datti Baba-Ahmed’s suggestion that not even Peter Obi can rescue Nigeria is understandable as an expression of frustration, but it is not a conclusion supported by the facts,” he said.
According to POMR, years of corruption, waste, mismanagement and weak leadership have placed significant pressure on Nigerians and undermined public institutions.
The group, however, argued that Obi’s record in Anambra demonstrated his ability to manage limited resources and prioritise public welfare.
“Peter Obi does not approach Nigeria’s challenges as an experiment. His record in Anambra provides evidence of what he can do with limited resources when public office is treated as a responsibility rather than an opportunity for personal enrichment,” the statement said.
Zekeri listed education, healthcare, infrastructure, fiscal discipline and reduction of waste among areas in which he said Obi made significant interventions while serving as governor.
He argued that the 2027 election should not be viewed as a search for an individual capable of solving every problem alone, but as an opportunity to elect a leader capable of initiating institutional reforms and restoring public confidence.
“Therefore, the question is not whether one individual can magically rescue Nigeria. No individual can. The question is whether Nigeria can elect a leader with the character, competence, prudence, and courage to begin the rescue. We believe Peter Obi can—and will,” he said.
The movement said an Obi administration would rely on strong institutions and competent professionals while prioritising the fight against corruption, reduction of government waste and increased investment in productive sectors.
Zekeri said Obi should not be presented as a “fake messiah”, but as a politician whose previous record, according to the group, demonstrated an understanding of responsible management of public funds.
“Nigeria does not need a fake messiah. It needs leadership that understands that public money is public trust,” he said.
The POMR spokesman concluded that Nigeria could overcome its challenges if it adopted responsible leadership, adding, “With O-K, Nigeria is rescueable.”
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