NewStats: 3,261,915 , 8,175,524 topics. Date: Saturday, 31 May 2025 at 01:12 AM 686i6r

Let me take you on a journey, one that started with hope, got tangled in disappointment, and is now searching for a real solution. Like many Nigerians, I so much liked Peter Obi during the last election and I was proudly an obidient, which many nairalanders can attest to. Here was a man who spoke with clarity about Nigeria’s problems, from corruption, poor infrastructure, unemployment and actually seemed to have *solutions*. Not just vague promises, but detailed plans. I believed in him. I campaigned (online, at least). I voted. And when the results came out… well, we all know how that went.

But something happened *after* the election that made me rethink everything. It wasn’t the loss itself that bothered me. It was what came after. Specifically, the **IBB book launch**. For those who missed it, this was a gathering of Nigeria’s "old guards" the same people who’ve held this country hostage since the ’90s. IBB, the man who annulled June 12, sat there like a godfather, surrounded by the usual suspects: OBJ, Atiku, and other political dinosaurs.

And Peter Obi? He was there too. Smiling. Shaking hands. Paying homage.

I expected him to *speak truth to power* to at least *hint* that these men were part of Nigeria’s rot. Instead, he played the game. That’s when it hit me: **If Obi had won, would he really have been different?** Or would he, like every other leader before him, end up bowing to the same cabal that dictates Nigeria’s fate?

My answer? **No.**

Obi might be a good man personally. But in Nigeria’s political arena, good men either get swallowed by the system… or become part of it.
Let’s be real. Nigeria’s problem isn’t *just* bad leaders. It’s the **system** that keeps producing them. The same people—IBB, OBJ, Tinubu, Atiku—have been recycling themselves for decades. They swap parties, forge alliances, and manipulate elections, but their goal never changes: **power and profit**.

Even if Obi had good intentions, the forces around him—the godfathers, the ethnic politics, the fear of "Igbophobia"—would have pressured him into compromise. We saw it with Buhari. We’ll see it again.

**So is there any hope?**

**Sowore: The Unfiltered Alternative?**
This is where my mind shifted. I’ve watched **Omoyele Sowore** for years—long before Buhari, before #EndSARS, before he became the "thorn in the flesh" of every corrupt Nigerian leader, although I’ve never liked him cause I feel he’s an opportunist but my mind had some change about him recently. Here’s what stands out:

1. **He Doesn’t Fear Power** – Sowore has been arrested, jailed, and harassed multiple times. Yet, he still calls out Tinubu, IBB, and the rest *by name*. No sugarcoating.

2. **He’s Not Part of the Club** – Unlike Obi (who has dined with OBJ and IBB), Sowore has *zero* alliances with the old system. His rise means *their fall*—and they know it.

3. **Strong Institutions Over Strongmen** – Sowore doesn’t just want to be president; he wants to **break the system** that enables corruption. Imagine an EFCC that actually works. An INEC that can’t be rigged. A judiciary that jails looters—*no matter who they are*.

Would OBJ, IBB, and Tinubu flee Nigeria if Sowore won? **I think so.** And that’s *exactly* what we need.

**But Here’s the Painful Truth…**
Most Nigerians *don’t* want change. We vote based on:
- **Ethnicity** ("He’s my brother!"
- **Religion** ("God says vote for him!"
- **Empty Promises** ("I’ll give you N5,000 monthly!"

Meanwhile, men like Sowore—or even Kingsley Moghalu (another sharp mind, though less aggressive)—get sidelined because they refuse to play dirty.

**Final Thoughts: Can Nigeria Ever Break Free?**
I’m not a "Sowore fanboy." I’m just a Nigerian who’s tired of the cycle. Peter Obi gave us hope, but the IBB event showed his limits. Tinubu? A disaster. Atiku? Recycled goods.

Maybe the answer isn’t a *perfect* leader… but one who’s **brave enough to dismantle the system**. Sowore might be chaotic. He might lack "political strategy." But sometimes, you need a man to clean a madhouse.

**What do you think?**
- Was I too harsh on Obi?
- Is Sowore *truly* the answer, or just another idealist?
- Can Nigeria ever escape its political curse?

Let’s discuss!


**Note:** This isn’t sponsored. Just my raw thoughts. Feel free to disagree—but bring facts, not insults.

Nobody will vote Sowore, rest IJN!

Who employs a new hire as the GMD of NNPC or Shell?

steeltrust:
Let me take you on a journey, one that started with hope, got tangled in disappointment, and is now searching for a real solution. Like many Nigerians, I so much liked Peter Obi during the last election and I was proudly an obidient, which many nairalanders can attest to. Here was a man who spoke with clarity about Nigeria’s problems, from corruption, poor infrastructure, unemployment and actually seemed to have *solutions*. Not just vague promises, but detailed plans. I believed in him. I campaigned (online, at least). I voted. And when the results came out… well, we all know how that went.

But something happened *after* the election that made me rethink everything. It wasn’t the loss itself that bothered me. It was what came after. Specifically, the **IBB book launch**. For those who missed it, this was a gathering of Nigeria’s "old guards" the same people who’ve held this country hostage since the ’90s. IBB, the man who annulled June 12, sat there like a godfather, surrounded by the usual suspects: OBJ, Atiku, and other political dinosaurs.

And Peter Obi? He was there too. Smiling. Shaking hands. Paying homage.

I expected him to *speak truth to power* to at least *hint* that these men were part of Nigeria’s rot. Instead, he played the game. That’s when it hit me: **If Obi had won, would he really have been different?** Or would he, like every other leader before him, end up bowing to the same cabal that dictates Nigeria’s fate?

My answer? **No.**

Obi might be a good man personally. But in Nigeria’s political arena, good men either get swallowed by the system… or become part of it.
Let’s be real. Nigeria’s problem isn’t *just* bad leaders. It’s the **system** that keeps producing them. The same people—IBB, OBJ, Tinubu, Atiku—have been recycling themselves for decades. They swap parties, forge alliances, and manipulate elections, but their goal never changes: **power and profit**.

Even if Obi had good intentions, the forces around him—the godfathers, the ethnic politics, the fear of "Igbophobia"—would have pressured him into compromise. We saw it with Buhari. We’ll see it again.

**So is there any hope?**

**Sowore: The Unfiltered Alternative?**
This is where my mind shifted. I’ve watched **Omoyele Sowore** for years—long before Buhari, before #EndSARS, before he became the "thorn in the flesh" of every corrupt Nigerian leader, although I’ve never liked him cause I feel he’s an opportunist but my mind had some change about him recently. Here’s what stands out:

1. **He Doesn’t Fear Power** – Sowore has been arrested, jailed, and harassed multiple times. Yet, he still calls out Tinubu, IBB, and the rest *by name*. No sugarcoating.

2. **He’s Not Part of the Club** – Unlike Obi (who has dined with OBJ and IBB), Sowore has *zero* alliances with the old system. His rise means *their fall*—and they know it.

3. **Strong Institutions Over Strongmen** – Sowore doesn’t just want to be president; he wants to **break the system** that enables corruption. Imagine an EFCC that actually works. An INEC that can’t be rigged. A judiciary that jails looters—*no matter who they are*.

Would OBJ, IBB, and Tinubu flee Nigeria if Sowore won? **I think so.** And that’s *exactly* what we need.

**But Here’s the Painful Truth…**
Most Nigerians *don’t* want change. We vote based on:
- **Ethnicity** ("He’s my brother!"
- **Religion** ("God says vote for him!"
- **Empty Promises** ("I’ll give you N5,000 monthly!"

Meanwhile, men like Sowore—or even Kingsley Moghalu (another sharp mind, though less aggressive)—get sidelined because they refuse to play dirty.

**Final Thoughts: Can Nigeria Ever Break Free?**
I’m not a "Sowore fanboy." I’m just a Nigerian who’s tired of the cycle. Peter Obi gave us hope, but the IBB event showed his limits. Tinubu? A disaster. Atiku? Recycled goods.

Maybe the answer isn’t a *perfect* leader… but one who’s **brave enough to dismantle the system**. Sowore might be chaotic. He might lack "political strategy." But sometimes, you need a man to clean a madhouse.

**What do you think?**
- Was I too harsh on Obi?
- Is Sowore *truly* the answer, or just another idealist?
- Can Nigeria ever escape its political curse?

Let’s discuss!


**Note:** This isn’t sponsored. Just my raw thoughts. Feel free to disagree—but bring facts, not insults.

DMerciful:
If Obi had won, would he really have been different?*

Obi might be a good man personally. But in Nigeria’s political arena, good men either get swallowed by the system… or become part of it.
Let’s be real.

Obi has served as a governor and proved himself different. No other governor has broken Obi's record. There is no guarantee that he will remain different if he becomes the president. But for now, it is wrong for anyone to assume that he is like the other politicians.

Sowore has not served as even a local government chairman. So, it is difficult to tell whether he will be different or not.

They are searching for true leader in all the wrong places.

I guess you know nothing about ford foundation.

DMerciful:
Nobody will vote Sowore, rest IJN!

Who employs a new hire as the GMD of NNPC or Shell?

Lol, "nobody will vote Sowore" is exactly what they said about Trump in 2016 and look how that turned out. As for your NNPC/Shell analogy, that’s the problem—Nigeria keeps recycling the same "experienced" people and wonders why nothing changes. Shell doesn’t hire rookies, but they also don’t keep CEOs who run the company aground. Meanwhile, our "experienced" leaders have turned Nigeria into a sinking ship, yet we keep begging them to stay at the helm. Funny enough, the same people who say Sowore isn’t "qualified" are the ones defending leaders who can’t even generate light or fix roads after decades in power. If experience means failure, maybe it’s time to try inexperience. At least he won’t owe the cabals any favors.

Obi ers aka ipob aka obidafts aka headless mobs will soon come for your head.

According to them, obi is the best president in the world.

See how he turned anambra to dubai after just 8 years as governor.

immortalcrown:
Obi has served as a governor and proved himself different. No other governor has broken Obi's record. There is no guarantee that he will remain different if he becomes the president. But for now, it is wrong for anyone to assume that he is like the other politicians.

Sowore has not served as even a local government chairman. So, it is difficult to tell whether he will be different or not.

You’re right—Obi’s performance as governor was solid, and no one can take that from him. He proved he could manage resources well in Anambra, and that’s why so many of us believed in him. But here’s the thing: governing a state isn’t the same as leading Nigeria, where the pressure from the political godfathers, ethnic interests, and that old cabal is 10 times stronger. My worry isn’t about Obi’s competence; it’s about whether he’d bend to the system when the stakes get higher. The IBB event shook me because it showed he’s willing to sit with the same people who ruined Nigeria just to stay in the game.

As for Sowore, yeah, he hasn’t held office, but that’s also his strength—he’s not tied to the system. You don’t need a title to prove you’ll fight corruption; you just need a track record of never backing down, and Sowore has that. Will he be perfect? No. But sometimes, you need someone who hasn’t been "seasoned" by Nigerian politics to actually break it.

At the end of the day, neither is a saint, but we can’t keep recycling the same playbook and expecting different results. Maybe the real question is: who’s more likely to resist the system? Obi has a record, but also baggage. Sowore’s wildcard, but untested. Tough choice, honestly

With these beneficiaries from LGs,States & Natl.assemblies to the presidency,it is impossible to end the system except you end the constitution.
It was for a reason Obj retired all the military men that participated in civil/political istration during military rule. It is difficult to resist and not invest heavily in political office aspirations if you ever tasted the freebies associated with political office in Nigeria.
I don't know where a God sent president would derive the constitutional power to stop governors from corruption or assembly from not padding budgets

jmoore:
I guess you know nothing about ford foundation.

Let’s not act like knowing about them automatically discredits every critic of the system. The real question is: does pointing at shadows change the fact that Nigeria’s problems are staring us in broad daylight? I didn’t bring up Ford because this isn’t about foreign conspiracies; it’s about our homegrown rulers who’ve failed us for decades. If you’ve got receipts showing how Ford Foundation rigged our elections or emptied our treasury, by all means, share. Otherwise, let’s keep the focus on the people actually holding the steering wheel while Nigeria veers off a cliff.

Godfullsam:
Obi ers aka ipob aka obidafts aka headless mobs will soon come for your head.

According to them, obi is the best president in the world.

See how he turned anambra to dubai after just 8 years as governor.

The point isn’t about hating Obi. It’s about asking questions. If he’s shaking hands with the same people who ruined Nigeria, how do we know he won’t play their game when it matters? And calling people "IPOB" or "headless mobs" just because they disagree? That’s the same divisive politics we’re all tired of. We should be able to debate without insults.

So, tell me—if Obi had won, what would he have done differently from Tinubu when the pressure came from IBB, OBJ, and the rest? I’m genuinely asking. Do you think sowore will do better ?. Let’s talk, no shouting.

steeltrust:
Let’s not act like knowing about them automatically discredits every critic of the system. The real question is: does pointing at shadows change the fact that Nigeria’s problems are staring us in broad daylight? I didn’t bring up Ford because this isn’t about foreign conspiracies; it’s about our homegrown rulers who’ve failed us for decades. If you’ve got receipts showing how Ford Foundation rigged our elections or emptied our treasury, by all means, share. Otherwise, let’s keep the focus on the people actually holding the steering wheel while Nigeria veers off a cliff.

Let Sowore test his skill in local government first.

jmoore:

Let Sowore test his skill in local government first.

That’s a fair point, but let’s be real—since when has Nigerian politics ever been about "starting small" before leading? Tinubu didn’t govern a local government before becoming Lagos governor. Atiku didn’t start as a councillor before becoming VP. Even Obi jumped from business to governor directly. The system doesn’t reward gradual growth; it rewards connections, money, and defiance. Sowore’s strength isn’t in local politics—it’s in challenging the entire rotten structure. If we keep waiting for "step-by-step" leaders, the same old players will keep recycling themselves. Sometimes, you need someone who’s ready to break the wheel, not just climb it slowly and I think that person is sowore

jmoore:

Let Sowore test his skill in local government first.

Though we are talking Nigeria here, but Trump never had public service experience too, he never even served in the military which is highly valued in America, yet he has won election twice .

The Op has nice idea, but wrong person. Sowore is tainted, his SR is a CIA tool

Godfullsam:
Obi ers aka ipob aka obidafts aka headless mobs will soon come for your head.

According to them, obi is the best president in the world.

See how he turned anambra to dubai after just 8 years as governor.

Abi o jare!

Most competent Presidential candidate of 2023 national election - yeah right......and pigs flippin flies in the skies.

Oga, stop playing a movie in your head, this is real life. You can't elect someone with consistent 20k votes nationwide.

Let Sowore go to house of representatives first

steeltrust:
Lol, "nobody will vote Sowore" is exactly what they said about Trump in 2016 and look how that turned out. As for your NNPC/Shell analogy, that’s the problem—Nigeria keeps recycling the same "experienced" people and wonders why nothing changes. Shell doesn’t hire rookies, but they also don’t keep CEOs who run the company aground. Meanwhile, our "experienced" leaders have turned Nigeria into a sinking ship, yet we keep begging them to stay at the helm. Funny enough, the same people who say Sowore isn’t "qualified" are the ones defending leaders who can’t even generate light or fix roads after decades in power. If experience means failure, maybe it’s time to try inexperience. At least he won’t owe the cabals any favors.

Even Sowore himself will be laughing the hell out of his apologists like you as una no dey ever gree to soji

steeltrust:
The point isn’t about hating Obi. It’s about asking questions. If he’s shaking hands with the same people who ruined Nigeria, how do we know he won’t play their game when it matters? And calling people "IPOB" or "headless mobs" just because they disagree? That’s the same divisive politics we’re all tired of. We should be able to debate without insults.

So, tell me—if Obi had won, what would he have done differently from Tinubu when the pressure came from IBB, OBJ, and the rest? I’m genuinely asking. Do you think sowore will do better ?. Let’s talk, no shouting.

I am not the one that gave them that name 'headless mobs', the current governor of anambra did.
He called them headless mobs because that was the best way to describe their actions.
As for obi, there is no difference between him and the rogues we currently have in power.
Obi and tinubu had the same manifestoes - subsidy removal and naira devaluation. Even though obi ers claimed he was going to implement it in a different way which is a lie.

Only Swore said he will not remove fuel subsidy. He said he was going to block every loop holes and jail the cabals that are selling our subsidized petrol to neighbouring country.
Then, he will ensure the refineries are fixed before subsidy removal.
This made a lot of sense to me and i ed him for that reason even though i know he wont win. But i am glad i didn't waste my time and vote for tinubu, atiku or obi.

Those guys dont mean well for this country.

DMerciful:
Oga, stop playing a movie in your head, this is real life. You can't elect someone with consistent 20k votes nationwide.

Let Sowore go to house of representatives first

Lol, you sound like the people who told Obama he wasn’t "experienced enough" before he became president. Since when did we start measuring a leader’s worth by how many rigged elections they’ve participated in? Sowore doesn’t have 20k votes because Nigeria’s system is designed to keep people like him out—same way they tried to silence Fela and Gani.

You want him to go to the House of Reps first? Good idea. But let’s be honest: even if he wins a seat, you’ll just move the goalpost again and say *"Let him be governor first."* Meanwhile, the same old thieves will keep recycling themselves at the top while we argue about "process."

The truth is, Nigeria doesn’t need more career politicians. It needs a disruptor. If you’re waiting for Sowore to "climb the ladder" the traditional way, you’ll be waiting forever—because that ladder is broken.

And by the way, if "low votes" disqualified people, how did Buhari win in 2015 after failing three times? 😏

Obama was a senator at the time


Sowore has not held any public position to know his antecedents

steeltrust:


Lol, you sound like the people who told Obama he wasn’t "experienced enough" before he became president. Since when did we start measuring a leader’s worth by how many rigged elections they’ve participated in? Sowore doesn’t have 20k votes because Nigeria’s system is designed to keep people like him out—same way they tried to silence Fela and Gani.

You want him to go to the House of Reps first? Good idea. But let’s be honest: even if he wins a seat, you’ll just move the goalpost again and say *"Let him be governor first."* Meanwhile, the same old thieves will keep recycling themselves at the top while we argue about "process."

The truth is, Nigeria doesn’t need more career politicians. It needs a disruptor. If you’re waiting for Sowore to "climb the ladder" the traditional way, you’ll be waiting forever—because that ladder is broken.

And by the way, if "low votes" disqualified people, how did Buhari win in 2015 after failing three times? 😏

steeltrust:
You’re right—Obi’s performance as governor was solid, and no one can take that from him. He proved he could manage resources well in Anambra, and that’s why so many of us believed in him. But here’s the thing: governing a state isn’t the same as leading Nigeria, where the pressure from the political godfathers, ethnic interests, and that old cabal is 10 times stronger. My worry isn’t about Obi’s competence; it’s about whether he’d bend to the system when the stakes get higher. The IBB event shook me because it showed he’s willing to sit with the same people who ruined Nigeria just to stay in the game.

As for Sowore, yeah, he hasn’t held office, but that’s also his strength—he’s not tied to the system. You don’t need a title to prove you’ll fight corruption; you just need a track record of never backing down, and Sowore has that. Will he be perfect? No. But sometimes, you need someone who hasn’t been "seasoned" by Nigerian politics to actually break it.

At the end of the day, neither is a saint, but we can’t keep recycling the same playbook and expecting different results. Maybe the real question is: who’s more likely to resist the system? Obi has a record, but also baggage. Sowore’s wildcard, but untested. Tough choice, honestly

My point is clear. Many people have served as governors and shown that they are as corrupt as the rest of the politicians we have in Nigeria. But Obi served as a governor and proved to be different. I also said that there's no guarantee that he will remain different if he becomes the president. The point is that until he proves that he is as corrupt as others, it is wrong for anyone to claim that he is as corrupt as others.

DMerciful:
Obama was a senator at the time


Sowore has not held any public position to know his antecedents

I’m not disputing that fact but let’s be real—neither had Obama before he became a senator, and yet he became president. Experience isn’t just about titles; it’s about what you’ve done. Sowore’s been fighting corruption and bad governance since his UNILAG days, exposed rot as an investigative journalist, and stood up to multiple regimes at great personal risk.

Meanwhile, how many ‘experienced’ politicians with long CVs have we watched loot this country dry? OBJ was president twice—what did it change? Tinubu ‘built Lagos’ (allegedly), yet here we are. Sometimes, what Nigeria needs isn’t another insider who knows how to ‘play the game’ but someone who’s spent decades calling out the game.

That said, I get the skepticism. If Sowore ever gets a chance, he’ll have to prove himself like anyone else. But after decades of recycled leaders failing us, maybe it’s time to bet on the guy who’s never bowed to the system

Godfullsam:


I am not the one that gave them that name 'headless mobs', the current governor of anambra did.
He called them headless mobs because that was the best way to describe their actions.
As for obi, there is no difference between him and the rogues we currently have in power.
Obi and tinubu had the same manifestoes - subsidy removal and naira devaluation. Even though obi ers claimed he was going to implement it in a different way which is a lie.

Only Swore said he will not remove fuel subsidy. He said he was going to block every loop holes and jail the cabals that are selling our subsidized petrol to neighbouring country.
Then, he will ensure the refineries are fixed before subsidy removal.
This made a lot of sense to me and i ed him for that reason even though i know he wont win. But i am glad i didn't waste my time and vote for tinubu, atiku or obi.

Those guys dont mean well for this country.

What’s funny is how people attack Sowore for being "too radical," but then turn around and complain about the same old failures. You can’t keep voting for wolves and expect a shepherd.

At least you didn’t waste your vote on the usual suspects. Maybe one day, more people will wake up and realize the problem isn’t just who’s in power—but what they represent. Till then, we’ll keep going in circles.

immortalcrown:
My point is clear. Many people have served as governors and shown that they are as corrupt as the rest of the politicians we have in Nigeria. But Obi served as a governor and proved to be different. I also said that there's no guarantee that he will remain different if he becomes the president. The point is that until he proves that he is as corrupt as others, it is wrong for anyone to claim that he is as corrupt as others.

The same obi that you people were insulting and calling all manner of derogatory names because of his poor run of affair when he was a governor.

The same obi that was impeached?

The same obi that soludo claimed took anambra state backward and made the state poorer and he hasn't come out to dispute the claim?

steeltrust:


What’s funny is how people attack Sowore for being "too radical," but then turn around and complain about the same old failures. You can’t keep voting for wolves and expect a shepherd.

At least you didn’t waste your vote on the usual suspects. Maybe one day, more people will wake up and realize the problem isn’t just who’s in power—but what they represent. Till then, we’ll keep going in circles.

I have always advocated a radical leader. Someone who can bring something different to the table.

Someone who can fight corruption head on.
I think sowore fits the bill to a large extent.
Even Abdulsalam said in 2023 during the last presidential candidates peace meeting prior to the presidential election that they will all run away from the country if sowore becomes president.

steeltrust:

He Doesn’t Fear Power

Yes, because that is his job and he has little to nothing to lose.

He’s Not Part of the Club

What club really?

Strong Institutions Over Strongmen

Sowore is the direct opposite of this.
Just check all your write up and what you know about him.
What exactly can you point as his institutional policy or credential?
Absolutely none.
Like other "idealist", every cell in his body makes him think he has some
divine mandate that only him can execute.

In fact, with such character, institutions or any semblance of them will
be completely dead until they are out of office(if they leave peacefully).

Godfullsam:
The same obi that you people were insulting and calling all manner of derogatory names because of his poor run of affair when he was a governor.

The same obi that was impeached?

The same obi that soludo claimed took anambra state backward and made the state poorer and he hasn't come out to dispute the claim?

Point out when, where and how I insulted Obi.

Otherwise, remain a shameless liar.

steeltrust:
Let me take you on a journey, one that started with hope, got tangled in disappointment, and is now searching for a real solution. Like many Nigerians, I so much liked Peter Obi during the last election and I was proudly an obidient, which many nairalanders can attest to. Here was a man who spoke with clarity about Nigeria’s problems, from corruption, poor infrastructure, unemployment and actually seemed to have *solutions*. Not just vague promises, but detailed plans. I believed in him. I campaigned (online, at least). I voted. And when the results came out… well, we all know how that went.

But something happened *after* the election that made me rethink everything. It wasn’t the loss itself that bothered me. It was what came after. Specifically, the **IBB book launch**. For those who missed it, this was a gathering of Nigeria’s "old guards" the same people who’ve held this country hostage since the ’90s. IBB, the man who annulled June 12, sat there like a godfather, surrounded by the usual suspects: OBJ, Atiku, and other political dinosaurs.

And Peter Obi? He was there too. Smiling. Shaking hands. Paying homage.

I expected him to *speak truth to power* to at least *hint* that these men were part of Nigeria’s rot. Instead, he played the game. That’s when it hit me: **If Obi had won, would he really have been different?** Or would he, like every other leader before him, end up bowing to the same cabal that dictates Nigeria’s fate?

My answer? **No.**

Obi might be a good man personally. But in Nigeria’s political arena, good men either get swallowed by the system… or become part of it.
Let’s be real. Nigeria’s problem isn’t *just* bad leaders. It’s the **system** that keeps producing them. The same people—IBB, OBJ, Tinubu, Atiku—have been recycling themselves for decades. They swap parties, forge alliances, and manipulate elections, but their goal never changes: **power and profit**.

Even if Obi had good intentions, the forces around him—the godfathers, the ethnic politics, the fear of "Igbophobia"—would have pressured him into compromise. We saw it with Buhari. We’ll see it again.

**So is there any hope?**

**Sowore: The Unfiltered Alternative?**
This is where my mind shifted. I’ve watched **Omoyele Sowore** for years—long before Buhari, before #EndSARS, before he became the "thorn in the flesh" of every corrupt Nigerian leader, although I’ve never liked him cause I feel he’s an opportunist but my mind had some change about him recently. Here’s what stands out:

1. **He Doesn’t Fear Power** – Sowore has been arrested, jailed, and harassed multiple times. Yet, he still calls out Tinubu, IBB, and the rest *by name*. No sugarcoating.

2. **He’s Not Part of the Club** – Unlike Obi (who has dined with OBJ and IBB), Sowore has *zero* alliances with the old system. His rise means *their fall*—and they know it.

3. **Strong Institutions Over Strongmen** – Sowore doesn’t just want to be president; he wants to **break the system** that enables corruption. Imagine an EFCC that actually works. An INEC that can’t be rigged. A judiciary that jails looters—*no matter who they are*.

Would OBJ, IBB, and Tinubu flee Nigeria if Sowore won? **I think so.** And that’s *exactly* what we need.

**But Here’s the Painful Truth…**
Most Nigerians *don’t* want change. We vote based on:
- **Ethnicity** ("He’s my brother!"
- **Religion** ("God says vote for him!"
- **Empty Promises** ("I’ll give you N5,000 monthly!"

Meanwhile, men like Sowore—or even Kingsley Moghalu (another sharp mind, though less aggressive)—get sidelined because they refuse to play dirty.

**Final Thoughts: Can Nigeria Ever Break Free?**
I’m not a "Sowore fanboy." I’m just a Nigerian who’s tired of the cycle. Peter Obi gave us hope, but the IBB event showed his limits. Tinubu? A disaster. Atiku? Recycled goods.

Maybe the answer isn’t a *perfect* leader… but one who’s **brave enough to dismantle the system**. Sowore might be chaotic. He might lack "political strategy." But sometimes, you need a man to clean a madhouse.

**What do you think?**
- Was I too harsh on Obi?
- Is Sowore *truly* the answer, or just another idealist?
- Can Nigeria ever escape its political curse?

Let’s discuss!


**Note:** This isn’t sponsored. Just my raw thoughts. Feel free to disagree—but bring facts, not insults.

Why are you talking about Sowore and Obi as if they are the only notable people who ran for President? What about Atiku and Kwankwaso?

Whatever anyone thinks about Nigerian politics, if Nigeria does not have capacity to conduct free and fair elections, everything else built on top is a disaster

Nobody is asking Sowore to bring additional experience before becoming a representative or senator but you see president? You have to have public office experience that people can judge your antecedents

steeltrust:
I’m not disputing that fact but let’s be real—neither had Obama before he became a senator, and yet he became president. Experience isn’t just about titles; it’s about what you’ve done. Sowore’s been fighting corruption and bad governance since his UNILAG days, exposed rot as an investigative journalist, and stood up to multiple regimes at great personal risk.

Meanwhile, how many ‘experienced’ politicians with long CVs have we watched loot this country dry? OBJ was president twice—what did it change? Tinubu ‘built Lagos’ (allegedly), yet here we are. Sometimes, what Nigeria needs isn’t another insider who knows how to ‘play the game’ but someone who’s spent decades calling out the game.

That said, I get the skepticism. If Sowore ever gets a chance, he’ll have to prove himself like anyone else. But after decades of recycled leaders failing us, maybe it’s time to bet on the guy who’s never bowed to the system

Peter Obi is same as them. Sowore for president.

DMerciful:
Nobody is asking Sowore to bring additional experience before becoming a representative or senator but you see president? You have to have public office experience that people can judge your antecedents

You’re right that presidential leadership requires experience, but let’s be real—what exactly has "public office experience" given Nigeria so far? OBJ was a military head of state and civilian president. Buhari ruled as a dictator and came back as "democrat." Tinubu was governor and "political godfather." Yet here we are, deeper in the same mess.

Experience matters, but not if it’s just years spent playing the same corrupt game. Sowore’s lack of political office isn’t a weakness—it’s his strength. He hasn’t been compromised by the system. He doesn’t owe favors to godfathers. His "experience" is fighting the system from the outside, which is exactly what Nigeria needs right now.

We’ve tried recycled leaders with "proven records." How’s that working out? Maybe it’s time to try someone who isn’t part of the club.