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By the time the history of 2023 general elections is written, historians will record it that Mr. Peter Obi’s decision to contest for the presidency on the platform of the Labour Party, was like a knight on a white horse. The excitement it generated among Nigerians, especially the youths, was unprecedented. Clearly, one of the important landmarks of his presidential quest was to draw a new generation of young Nigerians into politics. He played politics by its rules. In the face of unprovoked attacks on his person and supporters, fondly called the “Obidients”, he remained cool, poised and committed to the cause. No doubt, he has ‘shaken’ things up and reawakened our consciousness, perhaps more than any politician has ever done. It’s something rarely seen in our political history until now.
Beyond that, history will record it for Obi, that indeed, there is so much one man with integrity, strength of character and competence can do to positively change the course of people who earnestly desire a new pathway to politics and governance. That’s why, everywhere he goes these days, in his ‘Thank You’ tour, and campaign stops ahead of Saturday’s governorship and Houses of Assembly elections, the enthusiastic crowd chant his name, “Obi kererenke, Obi nwoke nwere weight”. It’s not just a measure of his popularity, but of his conviction, character, credibility and trust. Because of him, those who were until now “paper weight”, have become political “heavyweights”.
That is how Obi has redefined our politics, perception and charisma in the context that is profound. You see, charisma is rooted in the values and feelings that people have about someone. It is influence born of the alchemy that Aristotle called the ‘logos’, the ‘ethos’, and the ‘pathos’. It means, to persuade others, you must use powerful and reasoned rhetoric, establish personal and moral credibility, and then rouse followers’ emotions and passions. If a leader can do those three things well, he or she can tap into the hopes and ideals of followers, give them a sense of purpose, and inspire them to achieve great things.
If you are one of those still wondering how the ‘Obidient Movement’ became a rallying point, a tagline, and a catchphrase in these elections, and why every town Obi visits becomes aglitter, look no further. The crowds see in this man as one who embodies the virtues they want in a ‘New Nigeria’, a man who seeks power to achieve great purposes, definitely, not for his own personal advancement (Emi ‘lokan). It’s just unfortunate that the outcome of the presidential election went the way it did, with someone with no agenda but to dominate others, declared the winner. History will be most unkind to those who did this terrible thing to Nigeria and Nigerians. What Obi did, and other Presidential candidates didn’t do, is in the fact that, he was able to first connect with the people, define his message clearly, and then lead.
More than others, he knew that for a leadership in this age that is driven by technology, trust and transparency are key. It involves leveling with the people. His past record became his present pitch of his campaign. No Advertising agency can define you better than yourself. More than others, Obi knew from the outset that to exert influence, you must balance competence with warmth. A growing body of research by Amy J.C. Cuddy, Matthew Kohut, and John Neffinger (published in the Harvard Business Review, July-August, 2013 Edition), revealed that “warmth is the conduit of influence”. It facilitates trust and the communication and absorption of ideas. One takeaway from the research is that, without a foundation of trust, people may comply outwardly with a leader’s message, but they are much less likely to conform privately – to adopt the values, cultures and mission in a sincere, lasting way.
All through the campaigns, and even the flawed and compromised presidential election, Obi’s central message remains very stirring and eloquent. It reminds one of John F. Kennedy’s inaugural address, written by Ted Sorenson, which thrilled Americans to the core: “Let the word go forth from this time and place, to friends and foes alike, that the torch has been passed to a new generation of Americans – born in this century, tempered by war, disciplined by a hard and bitter peace…” No matter the final outcome of the presidential election, Peter Obi has recorded the most important accomplishment of the 2023 general elections. If the presidency was a prize to be won, Obi braced the tap with honour and unblemished character.
It will also be written to his credit that though no leader can be great who does not know how to use power, all the same, someone can truly lead without first securing power. What does all of this tell you? The ideas, the message, the energy Obi has generated across the country and abroad, are certainly things we have not heard or seen in many years in our politics. It throws up the question that Niccolo Machiavelli asked over 500 years ago: Is it better to be loved or feared? Machiavelli, however, acknowledged that “it may be answered that one should wish to be both, but because it is difficult to unite them in one person, it’s much safer to be feared than be loved”. That’s the path that many of our politicians follow. It’s a devious path. Obi refused to walk on that path, because many of those who followed that Machiavellian path never returned with a peace of mind. It is a timeless conundrum. Taken together, Obi has been able to prove beyond doubt that leaders who project strength before establishing trust run the risk of eliciting fear, and along with it a host of dysfunctional behaviours. That’s what happened to Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and his new -found apostle, Nyesom Wike. Imagine a weaselly Wike widely reported to have sabotaged Obi on Feb 25 Presidential poll in Rivers state, now saying, “Obi is my hero”. As one sarcastic saying goes, ‘I thank my enemy, for he is now my friend’. Who says our politics is not a fun to follow. You know why? According to behavioural scientists, fear can undermine cognitive potential, creativity, and problem-solving, and cause the followership to get stuck or even disengage. But Obi chose to do things uniquely different. That’s why many Nigerians, who are not even part of the ‘Obidient Movement’, genuinely appreciate him and stick with him like bees to honey. Providence may have a hand in everything Peter Obi has done in this election. If you don’t believe, it’s up to you. The truth is that no one wants to follow a ‘Frankenleader’ anymore, the kind that has brought tears and sorrow to millions of Nigerians, but has enriched just few at the detriment of the majority. Obi as a business leader before his foray into politics, knows that having a larger end has always been more important for most political leaders, but as a pragmatist, he’s concerned essentially with the bottom line, and that is, the pursuit of public good.
Plainly speaking, history will remember Obi’s accomplishments in these elections as the triumph of the human spirit. Historians will likely call him the “happy warrior”, a title from 1806 poem by William Wordsworth. It represents a brave, moral man who was able to remain virtuous even in the midst of distress. From Obi, many of us have had this feeling of togetherness, a sense of personal strength that we thought we didn’t have, that nothing is impossible for the willing spirit.
He has also demonstrated why warmth trumps over raw strength. This is why: the primacy of warmth manifests in many interrelated ways that powerfully underscore the importance of connecting with people before you try to lead them. A happy warrior reassures the people that whatever challenges you may face, things will work out in the end if you don’t give up or take your eyes off the ball. The happy warrior in Obi is what made him, even in the face of the rough -and-tumble of our politics to get him down, he has remained focused, with smiles and quick wit, standing straight and firm, irrespective of the circumstances. That is a measure of leadership, and a strong desire for service.
