Bwala Likens Peter Obi to Premier League Players Who Change Clubs Every Season
The Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Policy Communication, Mr. Daniel Bwala, has launched a fresh verbal attack on former presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Mr. Peter Obi, likening him to Premier League football players who change clubs almost every season.
Bwala made the remarks while speaking during an interview on The Clarity Zone Podcast, where he described Obi as a political opportunist and an actor whose political career, according to him, lacks consistency and genuine grassroots structure. Akahi News gathered that the comments have since sparked reactions across political circles and social media platforms.
“An Actor Among Political Gladiators” — Bwala
During the interview, Bwala argued that Obi’s political journey shows a pattern of frequent party defections, which he said contradicts the image of a principled reformer often projected by his supporters.
“Of all the political gladiators in Nigeria, the one who is an actor is Peter Obi,” Bwala said. “Let me give you a good example. After the 2023 election, he lost everybody he was leading.”
He questioned Obi’s post-election political relevance, pointing to the absence of lawmakers and governors still publicly aligned with him. Akahi News learnt that Bwala referenced Obi’s performance during the last general elections to support his argument.
“He had House of Representatives members and Senators. How many of them are in the National Assembly at the moment? The only governor he had — is the governor with him or with us?” Bwala asked rhetorically.
Criticism of Obi’s Political “Movement”
Taking his criticism further, Bwala dismissed Obi’s repeated reference to a growing political movement, arguing that such a movement has failed to translate into tangible electoral or institutional success.
“Taking it down to state level, in fact, I have not seen anyone that identifies with him at the moment,” he said. “All the candidates he had gone across Nigeria supporting, failed.”
According to Bwala, a genuine movement should represent a departure from existing political norms and inspire long-term loyalty. He suggested that Obi’s supporters often realise, after some time, that the former Anambra State governor lacks a clear intention or capacity to govern Nigeria.
Akahi News gathered that Bwala also criticised what he described as Obi’s “online army,” accusing them of double standards.
“He has an army of soldiers on social media who attack people every day for changing party, but they do not see anything wrong when their master or hero defects from one party to another,” he said.
Party Defections Compared to Football Transfers
Bwala concluded his remarks with a football analogy, comparing Obi’s political journey to that of top-flight footballers who frequently change clubs.
“Obi is just like Premier League football players that change club every season,” he said. “He moved from APGA to PDP, then to Labour Party, and now, he is in ADC.”
Akahi News learnt that the reference was aimed at portraying Obi as lacking ideological consistency, a claim that has remained a major line of attack from critics since the 2023 presidential election.
Political Reactions and Wider Context
The comments come amid ongoing realignments within Nigeria’s opposition politics, as parties and political figures position themselves ahead of future elections. Analysts say such public exchanges reflect deepening tensions between the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and opposition figures associated with the 2023 polls.
While Obi has not responded directly to Bwala’s remarks as of the time of filing this report, his supporters have often argued that his party movements were driven by principle and reform-minded considerations rather than opportunism.
Akahi News gathered that the latest comments are likely to further intensify political debates online and offline, especially among younger voters who played a prominent role in the Labour Party’s surge during the last election cycle.
By Joseph Iyaji | Akahi News
Joseph Iyaji is a journalist, educator, and founder of Akahi G. International, Akahi Tutors, and Akahi News. Read more about him here.
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