X Space with HE Peter Obi.

The Spaces convened Obedience Updates hosts Mercy, Sarah, and Tido alongside Dr. Tanko to welcome Peter Obi for a wide-ranging discussion on coalition politics, governance, and Nigeria’s path forward. Obi framed the session as country-first, not personality driven, and described his day centered on celebrating productivity and values. He outlined gratitude and purpose as his personal drivers, emphasized fiscal discipline and anti-corruption from his Anambra record (leaving substantial naira and dollar savings, prioritizing education/health, BOI SME lending, and poverty mapping), and stressed rule of law and national unity as foundations for investment and security. On coalition strategy, he clarified he has been part of the ADC coalition from inception, seeks a broad, issues-led alliance across parties, and rejects power for power’s sake, focusing on selecting the most capable manager of resources. He discussed SMEs, taxes (you cannot tax poverty), and practical security support. Obi maintained he is most qualified and committed, yet avoided definitive 2027 ballot declarations, asking for unity, discipline, and hard work while continuing open engagement with supporters.

Twitter Spaces: Peter Obi Q&A hosted by Obedience Updates

Session Overview and Key Participants

• Host: Obedience Updates (Space organizer and moderator)
• Co-hosts and movement leads:
  • Dr. Tanko (movement leader; emphasized unity, prayer, and readiness for a “final push”)
  • Mercy (co-host; stressed inclusivity and motivation, urged concise audience participation)
  • Tudo (Obedient Ninjas lead; highlighted narrative-building, respect for unsung heroes, and Nigeria’s crossroads)
• Principal guest: Mr. Peter Obi (referred to as “His Excellency” throughout)
• Audience contributors included: High Chief, Valerie OJ, Chief Jack Chuku, Doctor Royal, Ibrahim, Juliet, Victor, AO Yusuf, Guns of Blazon, Kaladi, Chris, Ogaranya, Eijoma, Doctor Campbell, among others.

Opening: Movement Coordination, Expectations, and House Rules

• The host urged attendees to follow the Obedience Updates handle for verified information, avoid misinformation, and register at the movement’s website to join a growing coordination community.
• Emphasis on trending call-to-action: “P2B is coming” (# P2BIsComing) to amplify reach.
• Co-hosts reinforced one-minute question limits to maximize inclusivity and ensure broad participation.
• Dr. Tanko framed the event spiritually and strategically, calling for unity beyond activism and party divides and pledging support wherever Peter Obi leads.

Peter Obi: Opening Remarks and Personal Ethos

• Gratitude and productivity: Obi began by expressing gratitude to God and described a day focused on celebrating productivity, character, and societal impact.
  • He attended a 50-year celebration honoring the founder of the Songhai farms initiative (Porto-Novo), a widely respected model of integrated agro-productivity and self-sufficiency.
  • He visited long-standing families and community figures who embody value and productivity.
  • He spent time with his former school principal (now 90) and visited an elderly traditional ruler, underscoring respect for character, values, and legacy.
• Core message: “It is not about me or any one person; it is about our country and changing the narrative—building a nation of character, value, and productivity.”

Coalition and Party Alignment: ADC Clarifications and “Stepping Down” Rumors

• Obi clarified he has been part of the ADC coalition from its inception and had already campaigned for ADC candidates prior to this Space.
• The coalition is an alliance across parties (LP, PDP, APC splinters, others) intended to safeguard an endangered democracy, not a personality deal.
• He rejected framing around “defection” timing and “stepping down” arrangements:
  • Respect for Atiku Abubakar as a senior leader remains, but the coalition is about merit, competence, and offering Nigerians better governance—not about anointed candidates or power for power’s sake.
• Selection principle: Work together within the coalition to identify the most competent leadership based on what is being offered to Nigerians—education, healthcare, poverty alleviation, productivity—not personal ambitions.

2027 Candidacy: Intent, Caution, and Focus

• Obi expressed resolve to remain fully engaged and “on the ballot” was stated in the Space, but he refused to reduce the future to a certainty or a soundbite.
• He emphasized humility before God, the unpredictability of life, and the need to work hard, organize, and unify rather than assume outcomes.
• Takeaway: He is committed, qualified, prepared, and actively working—but he refrains from overpromising; the movement should focus on building capacity, unity, and strategy.

Governance Philosophy: Integrity, Fiscal Prudence, and Rule of Law

• “We need managers of resources, not entertainers.” Educational degrees and rhetoric are not measures of integrity.
• Fiscal lawlessness is Nigeria’s biggest problem. He stressed:
  • Transparency, cost-cutting, and rejecting greed as normalized culture.
  • Opposes wasteful spending (e.g., extravagant aircraft purchases).
  • Support rule of law as the principal driver of investment; investors value predictable, lawful environments above all.
• Personal record (Anambra):
  • Left substantial balances without borrowing (e.g., tens of billions of naira plus hundreds of millions of dollars saved in dollar reserves for future generations), signaling prudent stewardship.
  • Initiated subnational savings to mirror national reserve logic.
  • Refused inducements related to land titling (C of O) and did not appropriate public lands.
  • Won court cases without bribery; upheld judicial independence and fairness.

Policy Priorities and Operating Model

• Law and order, human rights, and unity:
  • President and Vice President are ultimately responsible for nationwide law and order.
  • Uphold constitutionalism and fight daily for unity-in-diversity, recognizing that every region has something to offer.
  • Engage restive regions (e.g., Niger Delta) constructively—acknowledge grievances, apologize where needed, and enable productivity.
• Insecurity:
  • Approach centers on rule of law, institutional strengthening, unity, and tackling poverty (a core driver of instability).
  • Practical support for security institutions (police, army infrastructure) and accountability.
• Tax and economy:
  • “You cannot tax poverty.” Taxation must follow productivity; the more the economy produces, the more tax yields grow naturally.
  • Over-taxation in a context of mass poverty and unemployment drives citizens and companies deeper into distress.
  • Focus on creating jobs, enabling SMEs, and shifting from consumption to production as the basis for sustainable tax revenue.
• SMEs and industrialization:
  • Obi’s own background: built businesses from scratch, served as director/chair across financial institutions—deep SME finance literacy.
  • Studied global models (e.g., Indonesia), engaged foreign ministries and development agencies, and visited countries that successfully scaled SMEs.
  • As governor, co-funded SME credit lines with Bank of Industry; established BOI presence and priority lending to small businesses.
• Education and health:
  • Invested heavily in basic education, nursing schools, and healthcare capacity during governorship.
  • Personally visited hundreds of secondary schools and nearly a thousand primary schools—grounded oversight and accountability.

Movement Strategy: Lessons from 2023 and Path to 2027

• “No followers—only co-owners.” Everyone is part of the journey; recruit more people as conditions have worsened since 2023.
• Do not despair; focus on practical changes for 2027—some strategies must be done differently. Details will unfold as the coalition continues work.
• Inclusivity and discipline: short questions; broad participation; trend messaging; register and organize through the movement’s platforms.

Diaspora Participation and ADC Membership Questions

• Diaspora: The biggest constraint is voting rights. Advocacy is crucial; the movement needs diaspora voices but must also push for enabling legislation/processes.
• Should Obedients register with ADC?
  • Obi did not issue directives. He emphasized he is already part of ADC and that the coalition’s essence is collective competence and offering a better agenda, not party labels.
  • Join and work where you can best strengthen the mission; unity across parties is the point.

Internal Dynamics: Bullying, Party Capture, and Government Pressure

• Reports of bullying within coalition ranks (e.g., Akwa Ibom) must be addressed with reason, not aggression.
• He argued that much of LP/PDP disarray has been aggravated by the current government’s posture towards opposition; robust democracy needs encouragement of opposition.
• Avoid internal “party capture” by insisting on rules, procedures, and ethos—he will continue to practice principled politics, not transactional shortcuts.

Personal Integrity: Anecdotes Illustrating Values

• Minimalist, disciplined lifestyle: lives simply, cleans his own space, makes his own tea, does not crave property accumulation.
• Refused “gifted” land; redirected land once allocated to him to a retiring civil servant who had served 35 years without owning property—“build the country by doing what is right.”
• Cost discipline borne out in bank and public roles; prioritizes spending on education and health over self-indulgence.
• Urged supporters not to insult adversaries; respond with love, unity, and reason—“Don’t normalize bad behavior and greed.”

Q&A Highlights: Core Questions and Obi’s Responses

• Leveraging the Obedient movement for 2027 (Doctor Royal):
  • We are co-owners, not followers; recruit more, work harder; learn from 2023 to do better in 2027.
• Fiscal mismanagement and cost-cutting (High Chief):
  • Nigeria needs managers of resources; curb greed, waste, and fiscal lawlessness; normalize integrity, not displays of wealth.
• Rumors of joining a party or someone stepping down (Valerie OJ):
  • Already part of ADC coalition; respect for leaders like Atiku, but choices must be merit-based; no personal entitlement.
• Avoid repeating 2023 mistakes (Chief Jack Chuku):
  • Some things will be done differently; details will be shared progressively.
• Continuous engagement (Ibrahim):
  • He values ongoing dialogue before and after any election; his record shows relentless on-ground engagement.
• Law and order and accountability (Juliet):
  • Rule of law drives investment; President/Vice President are accountable; focus on unity-in-diversity and institutional strength.
• Coalition bullying (Victor):
  • Solve with reason, not aggression; competence should guide roles; unity is key.
• Coalition risk and integrity (Chris):
  • He will only be part of a coalition that serves the people; he maintains strict personal standards and welcomes scrutiny.
• Tax policy and vulnerable populations (Inam):
  • Do not tax poverty; build productivity first; tax follows growth, jobs, and SME vitality.
• Ballot certainty (Kaladi):
  • Strong intent and commitment, yet humbly defers certainty to God; focus on building and organizing.
• ADC fortunes in Anambra (Ogaranya):
  • Distinguishes between his personal campaign method and support for others; will prioritize rethinking and rebuilding Nigeria; when he leads a campaign, he does it intensively and personally.

Communication Etiquette and Movement Culture

• No insults; no bullying.
• Replace arrogance with empathy and unity; Nigeria’s future depends on ending normalized greed and divisive politics.
• Celebrate productivity and character, not wealth displays.

Action Items and Takeaways

• Follow Obedience Updates for verified information; register on the movement website to join organizing efforts.
• Trend key messages and recruit more people; conditions have worsened since 2023—work harder.
• Advocate for diaspora voting; until then, diaspora should amplify advocacy and movement goals.
• Inside the coalition, focus on competence and a superior offering to Nigerians: education, healthcare, poverty reduction, productivity, rule of law.
• Prepare for 2027 with improved strategies; specifics will be communicated as coalition processes mature.
• Maintain ethical standards: avoid divisive rhetoric; practice integrity in small and big things.

Closing Note

• Obi reiterated that he seeks a Nigeria that works for everyone—where poverty is reduced through productivity and where rule of law, unity, and competent management of public resources prevail.
• He thanked participants and emphasized that the mission is collective: “I’m desperate for Nigeria to work, not desperate to be president.” The movement must organize, unify, and hold itself to the highest standards as it builds toward 2027.