International rights activist Donu Kogbara has claimed that former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi has achieved unprecedented global recognition over the past three years, surpassing all other Nigerian politicians in popularity.
Speaking during an Arise TV interview from 11:41, Kogbara argued that Obi’s political transformation since leaving the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has elevated him to extraordinary heights of public recognition both domestically and internationally.
Kogbara emphasized Obi’s remarkable political evolution since becoming an independent candidate. “Peter Obi is way above the most popular politician in Nigeria today, and has been for the past three years. I’m talking about from the year preceding the election, when he left the PDP to become a candidate in his own right,” she stated.
The activist drew comparisons with Obi’s previous electoral performance to highlight his current appeal. “I also would like to remind everybody that Peter ran alongside Aiku in 2019, and they didn’t do that well. So there’s something about Peter on his own that seems to work right now,” she observed.
Kogbara provided specific examples of Obi’s international recognition based on her personal experiences. “I went to Sierra Leone recently, and a lot of people said to me, ‘Do you know Peter Obi?’ once they found out that I was a Nigerian. When I am in London, the Uber drivers, who are even Yoruba ones, who you would think would be Asiwaju, often say, ‘Madame, what do you do?’ and I tell them, and they say, ‘Do I know Peter Obi, and that Peter Obi is their man?'” she recounted.
Kogbara offered a controversial assessment that the former Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo might have matched Obi’s popularity. “So, I just think he’s very popular. Do you know what I think? This is a very radical thought. I suppose I think the only other person who could possibly have gained this kind of traction, if he’d had the opportunity to run, would have been Osinbajo, the former vice president,” she stated.
The activist suggested that a different APC primary outcome might have created a more competitive political landscape. “I think if the APC process had thrown up Osinbajo, I think he could have given Peter a run for his money in terms of public perception and popularity,” she concluded.
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