Nollywood actor Laide Olabanji has continued to publicly express his support for Peter Obi, urging Nigerians to look beyond ethnic considerations when deciding who to support politically.
In a statement circulating online, the actor argued that Nigerians should focus on the quality of leadership and the future of the country rather than supporting a politician simply because they come from the same ethnic group.
“If someone can destroy a country in 3 years, another good man can do it better for just 1 year. Gowon ruled for 9 years, Gen Murtala Muhammed repaired it in just 6 months,” Olabanji said.
He went on to directly appeal to Nigerians who may be influenced by ethnic considerations when making political decisions.
“So if your tribe person can’t give you a better life, allow Peter Obi to give you a better country. The future of your children is very important,” he added.
Olabanji’s latest comments come days after he criticised what he described as tribalism in Nigerians’ reactions to rising petrol prices. In that earlier statement, he compared the price of petrol under a previous administration with current prices and questioned why some Nigerians appeared more tolerant of higher prices because a politician from their preferred ethnic group was in power.
His latest statement therefore continues a pattern of political commentary in which the actor has used his social media platforms to discuss governance, economic hardship and the role of ethnicity in Nigerian politics.
The historical comparison in his latest remarks refers to the administrations of General Yakubu Gowon and General Murtala Mohammed. Gowon was Nigeria’s military head of state from 1966 until 1975, while Murtala Mohammed took over in July 1975 and was assassinated in February 1976.
Olabanji’s description of Murtala Mohammed as having “repaired” the country within six months is his assessment of that period rather than an established historical measurement. His statement also compares the length of the two administrations with the speed at which he believes a capable leader can implement change.
His comments come as political activity around Nigeria’s 2027 presidential election continues to intensify. Peter Obi, who was the Labour Party’s presidential candidate in 2023, has since moved through opposition political realignments and is currently associated with the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC). Channels Television reported in May 2026 that Obi had been screened and cleared to contest the NDC’s presidential primary.
Obi has previously said he intends to contest the 2027 presidential election, while political parties continue their preparations for the election.
Olabanji’s comments are therefore part of the wider political debate ahead of the 2027 election, particularly discussions around whether voters should prioritise ethnicity, party affiliation, leadership records, policies or other considerations when choosing candidates.
The actor’s statement has generated discussion online, with supporters of Obi welcoming his position and other Nigerians debating his comparison of past military administrations with contemporary democratic politics.
For Olabanji, however, his message is centred on what he considers to be the importance of putting the country’s future and the welfare of children ahead of ethnic loyalty when making political choices.
