A man who claims he attended the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) with Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi and later worked with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has shared his personal opinion of both men.
Speaking during an interview with digital creator Emir Sirdam, the man said he was roommates with former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor Godwin Emefiele and was also a schoolmate of Peter Obi at UNN.
During the podcast, he expressed disappointment with his generation, saying they inherited a prosperous Nigeria but failed to leave the country in a better state for future generations.
“The reason I’m ashamed of my generation is that my generation enjoyed Nigeria so well, and instead of leaving Nigeria better, we are leaving Nigeria worse than we met it,” he said.
According to him, his generation benefited from a system in which students received allowances, scholarships were readily available, and employment opportunities awaited graduates.
He argued that despite enjoying those privileges, his generation failed to create similar opportunities for those who came after them, leaving the country worse off.
Recalling the early days of his career, he said he joined Zenith Bank in 1992 after Emefiele encouraged him to go into banking because bankers were earning good salaries.
He said:
“At that time, Tinubu was the Chief Accountant of Mobil. Emefiele was his account officer, and I was working under Emefiele. So, I knew Tinubu one to one.
“What I’m going to tell you is that I not only knew Tinubu very well, I also knew Peter Obi very well.”
Giving his assessment of the two men, he said he believes Obi would provide better leadership if given the opportunity.
“I’ve seen both of them clearly and closely, and that’s the reason I’m telling Nigerians: if only you can give Peter Obi a chance. After four years, I swear, if he leaves, you’re going to call him back, saying, ‘Oga, you can’t go,’ just the way Alex Otti is doing.”
He added:
“It doesn’t take eight years to make an impact.”
The man also shared his views on President Tinubu’s performance in office and expressed confidence that Peter Obi is making efforts to become the kind of leader Nigeria needs.
