ABUJA, NIGERIA — Reverend Father Prince Chidi Philip has launched a scathing critique of Peter Obi’s decision to abandon his scheduled visit to Benue State after being blocked from entering the state, questioning whether the National Democratic Congress presidential candidate possesses the political strength and strategy required to challenge a sitting president in 2027.
In a statement issued on Thursday, the clergyman expressed deep disappointment over the incident, describing it as a troubling indication of Obi’s capacity to confront the obstacles that lie ahead in his presidential bid. He argued that if an ordinary state governor could prevent Obi from entering a state, the former Anambra governor would struggle to unseat an incumbent president in a national election.
“I am deeply disappointed in Mr. Peter Obi for not being able to enter Benue State again. If an ordinary governor can prevent him from entering a state, then how can he unseat a sitting president in 2027?” Philip asked. “Why would he leave Benue State without accomplishing the mission that brought him there? At what point do we stop seeing these incidents as mere obstacles and start questioning whether Mr. Peter Obi has the political strength and strategy required to confront the challenges ahead?”
The cleric acknowledged Obi’s reputation as a good man but argued that goodness alone was insufficient in Nigeria’s turbulent political environment. He stressed that politics demands courage, strategy, resilience, and the willingness to stand one’s ground when faced with opposition.
“Being a good man is important, but politics requires more than goodness. It requires courage, strategy, resilience, and the willingness to stand your ground when faced with opposition,” he stated. “If Mr. Peter Obi cannot overcome the political barriers standing in his way today, Nigerians have every right to ask: how prepared is he to take on the biggest political battle of his life in 2027?”
Philip drew a biblical analogy, citing Abraham’s decision to arm his men and rescue Lot when his family was captured, arguing that there are moments when peace requires courage and goodness must defend itself. He warned against romanticising weakness simply because it comes from a good person, insisting that Nigeria needs a leader who understands how to navigate the rough and tumble of its politics.
“Good intentions alone will not save Nigeria. You cannot enter a political battlefield carrying only the weapons of kindness and expect to defeat people who are prepared to fight dirty,” he said. “Goodness without courage can become helplessness. Integrity without strategy can become political naivety. And leadership without the willingness to fight for what is right will struggle to change a country as complicated as Nigeria.”
He contrasted Obi’s experience with that of Kogi Central Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, who he said was blocked from going home but flew in by helicopter to reach her destination. He argued that Nigerian politics demands a combination of aura, resilience, and the ability to find alternative routes when one door is shut.
“If you cannot deal with a sitting governor, how can you deal with a sitting president?” Philip asked. “Nigeria politics is aura for aura, thugs for thugs, and peace for peace. When one door is blocked, you find another way in.”
The cleric, however, maintained that he was not dismissing Obi’s integrity. He described the former governor as a good man but insisted that Nigeria required a leader who combines virtue with political sagacity. He said he disagreed with some Obidients who treat every setback as proof of persecution, urging them to confront the reality that political power is never handed over without a fight.
“Mr. Peter Obi may have the heart of a good man. But if he truly wants to save Nigeria, he must also develop the political strength to fight for that goodness,” Philip stated. “Nigeria is not a Sunday school classroom. It is a political battlefield. And sometimes, even good men have to learn how to fight.”
Obi was reportedly prevented from entering Benue State on Wednesday during a scheduled visit. The NDC presidential candidate and his team were said to have been turned back by security operatives, prompting him to return to Abuja. The incident has sparked debate about the treatment of opposition figures and the shrinking political space ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Philip concluded his statement with a provocative question: “Or perhaps Mr. Peter Obi is simply too good to be the president of a highly corrupt country like Nigeria.“
