By Isaac ASABOR
If there is any scripture that aptly describes the vilification and antagonism that Mr. Peter Obi, the presidential aspirant of the Labour Party (LP) is presently facing from the people he is tribally affiliated with, it is unarguably Mathew 10:36 that says, “And a person’s enemies will be those of his own household.” As it ought to be, one is naturally wont to exude confidence and a sense of being supported when surrounded by family members but Jesus teaches that security is not fully guaranteed as some members of one’s family can be treacherous, and act as agents of one’s enemies or traducers.
For the sake of clarity, an enemy is a person who hates somebody or who acts or speaks against somebody or something. Enemies are imbued with a deep hatred for others. This hatred is a result of jealousy, envy, or dislike stemming from obvious happenings, and in some cases from the absence of any happening. It is therefore not surprising that every human being, whether small or great, poor or rich has an enemy or enemies to contend with. Thus, enmity can exist between husband and wife, father and son, employer and employee, between co-workers or colleagues, neighbors or co-tenants, and so on and so forth.
The scripture, no doubt, throws insight into the fact that the devil can creep in and tear brothers, friends, and lovers apart. In fact, it is against the foregoing backdrop that one should not entirely depend on perceived confidants when embarking on a project or seeking security from those close to him or her. In fact, one should take cognizance of the fact that there is a proclivity of insecurity from within. Genesis 4:8-9 says, “And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him. And the Lord said unto Cain, Where is Abel thy brother? And he said, I know not: Am I my brother’s keeper?”
As the narrative goes, Cain denies being Abel’s “Security Officer”. Therefore, as one deals with humans, even at the family level, it is expedient to be cognizant of the fact that one’s closest confidant can work against him or her. Genesis tells us that Jacob loved Joseph more than the other 11 sons. This deep love for the boy stirred hatred and jealousy among these brothers. So they conspired to kill him. Joseph was sold in a foreign land to be lonely and in despair.
Against the foregoing backdrop, it is not an exaggeration to say that the foregoing biblical references collectively serve as a magnum opus, and to a large extent define the trajectory of human thinking and actions, particularly in the sphere of politics, and in the unholy business of undoing one another. In fact, as political observers continue to watch presidential aspirants affiliated with the 18 political parties that are registered to contest in the forthcoming presidential elections, one of the aspirants that can be said to be mostly vilified and undeservedly being attacked by his own people, Ndigbo, to be precise, is Peter Obi of the LP. Without resorting to sentiment, the worst enemies he is been faced with are his own people; who are invariably Ndigbo, particularly the elites among them.
For instance, he has been attacked by the fiery director of the Catholic Adoration Ministry, Enugu, Rev. Fr. Ejike Mbaka, over his presidential ambition ahead of the 2023 elections. In a similar vein, he has been attacked by the former Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, and still in a similar vein, Charles Soludo, the governor of Anambra State, a few months ago went against his candidacy as he poured vituperation on him.
As if the foregoing unwarranted attacks were not enough, an Anambra born-business billionaire, Prince Arthur Eze, yesterday, December 26, 2022, condemned Obi’s ambition of becoming the next president of Nigeria after, President Muhammadu Buhari in 2023.
Eze, while speaking at the occasion of the 2022 Ofala festival of HRH Igwe (Dr.) Robert Eze, the traditional ruler of Ukpo in Dunukofia local government area of the State, opined that he warned Obi to drop his ambition, but he wouldn’t listen.
He noted that he advised Obi to wait till the next political dispensation, and rather than heed to his advice, he resorted to mentioning the number of states he thought he would win.
Be that as it may, it is germane to conjecture in this context that the reason why Obi is experiencing a series of unjustified attacks from his own people cannot be farfetched as it is unarguable that his traducers are envious of his soaring success, particularly since he threw his hat into the rings. Given the foregoing, it is expedient to remind Obi and his supporters of the words of Winston Churchill which says, “When there is no enemy within, the enemies outside cannot hurt you.”
