Peter Obi, Presidential candidate of the Labour Party during the 2023 general elections has received heavy criticism after photos from the commissioning of boreholes he donated to some northern communities made it to the social media.
From former presidential aide Bashir Ahmed to actress Tonto Dikeh and Daniel Bwala who served as a spokesperson for Atiku Abubakar’s presidential campaign, Obi’s gesture, rather than attract all-round applause, has drawn divided opinions.
The project expected to ameliorate the suffering and water needs of those communities drew negative reactions because, according to some, the aesthetics were poor.
The northern part of Nigeria suffers a lack of water supply with farmers recording poor crop harvests as a result.
Bashir Ahmed wrote on X, “Wow. This looks very presidential. Thank you, His Excellency Peter Obi. Your vice president, Dr. Datti Baba-Ahmed, who is from Zaria, and the whole community must appreciate your gesture. My only curiosity here is about the source of the water.”
Dikeh in a post on Instagram criticised Obi saying she was dissatisfied with his action, and went further to urge him to team up with President Tinubu to contribute to the nation’s progress.
Bwala wrote on X, “You only need to see @PeterObi water corporation when he was a governor to understand why he sponsored that borehole that is repugnant to natural justice, equity and good conscience.
Read Also: FG losing huge revenue to low crude production – PETAN
“That is his style of governance. You cannot give what you don’t have. I am so happy that the demographics he deceived in the 2023 elections are wiser now.”
Rhodes-Vivour backs Peter Obi
Meanwhile, the Labour Party candidate for Lagos State’s governorship election in 2023, Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour maintained his support of Obi saying the intervention will help the federal government save money from the amount allocated for boreholes in the 2024 budget.
Peter Obi, 62, was governor of Anambra State between June 2007 to March 2014. Despite finishing third in the presidential election of 2023, he has not hidden his intention to recontest in 2027.
