Victor Umeh : A Political Asset Or Liability To Peter Obi’s Presidential Aspirations?

DR OOGOO NWANKWO

 After few days of defecting to Labour party and stating categorically his two thematic reasons for joining the Labour party; 1.Purposeful representation and voice for Ndi-Igbo at this critical time in the Senate and 2. full conviction in the Igbo presidential ambition come 2023 fully represented in Peter Obi’s Labour Party Presidential ticket…many writers, influencers and indeed supporters of the PO ambition continue to create assumptions as if they do not understand the critical nature of the business of 2023.

The critical questions to be asked are;1. Is Peter Obi a good politician or good business man?2. Is Peter Obi a sagacious politician?3. Is Peter Obi a political master strategist?4.Is Peter Obi a deft negotiator and deep political maneuverer?5. Does Peter Obi bring the boldness and historical Igbo repertoire to engage the core north in national issues?

Forget the hysteria and vuvuzeling of many young people on this space, the journey of 2023 requires first elevens and it must be a test of Peter Obi’s willingness to play politics. He, Peter Obi understands this at the top and therefore never hesitated to give Victor Umeh a call immediately the opportunity presented itself. Unfortunately, the neophytes do not even understand that there are as many as this type of call that will be made in the few days and months immediately after the party primaries cataclysmic episodes blow.

So, for every General across the country who never agreed with Peter Obi that is brought on board by him, the foot soldiers will start attacking and reneging on these generals. Assuming an El-Rufai gets aggrieved after APC primaries and reaches an understanding with Obi so we will not rest here than continued reminiscing of how and where El-Rufai denigrated Obi. Can we get serious in this window of political transfer and maneuver for quality and versatile players?

Without equivocation, I agreed with Nyesom Wike when he said inter Alia…” that Peter Obi with all his popularity has presented candidates in Anambra State two times and he could not win election for the PDP” I knew the moment he said that, it was a stark reality! So what happened? Peter does not and can’t play politics of stakeholders! But with his call to Umeh, he now have set the stage for a new dimension in his politics. He has recruited a General who plays at the top and very tactful in stakeholding politics. Himself knows this as  the reality. 

With Victor Umeh on this Presidential train with Peter Obi, you can be certain of these;
1. A Politician and Versatile Character in Partisan Politics.
2. A deft player of the politics of stakeholding. He can reach agreements, truce, negotiations and concessions both home and in the country at large. 
3. An extra voice to that of Obi on national television and media houses
4. An ontoward unflinching believer in Igbo Presidency that will not dodge the ethnic jabs as Peter Obi usually does.
5. A historically bent Politician that can draw traffic on national issues and change realistic narrative in the campaign period!
6. A deep and smart thinker who could contribute effective ideas on boardroom alternative pathways of avoiding electoral pitfalls and legal jargons
7. An engine house for emissary, envoy and special missions to all parts of the country in pursuit of strategic alliance.
The fact is that aside his personal interest of going to the Senate, whatever made Victor Umeh drop APGA and join Labour Party  after all these years of sacrifice in APGA is a miraculous blessing in disguise to any supporter of Peter Obi presidential ambition and under to Labour party at large. 

Nobody goes to a national war without getting his home front perfectly in order! Peter Obi is learning this on the trade and this is a sign of hope to me as an unflinching believer in the 2023 South Eastern Presidency. From here, Peter Obi can turn his attention to more pressing issues of funding and branding while he leaves the home front for the Jagaban Borgu Victor Umeh to hold forth in defense, dispatch and distribution of political sagacity for complete victory in 2023. 

NB: All other activities and write ups in attack of this master stroke reunion between Peter Obi and Victor Umeh is to the extent of its political blindness;null and void!