Abia South Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe has criticised President Bola Tinubu’s administration, describing it as a “Kabiyesi government” and claiming that former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi would govern more effectively.
Abaribe made the remarks while appearing on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Monday night, arguing that Tinubu’s government treats any dissent as disloyalty.
“There are many Nigerians who are democrats who can run this country like Peter Obi and he will be my candidate,” Abaribe said. “The point is not him but the way the whole government has turned into a Kabiyesi government, so the president can do no wrong, anything he says we agree. That’s not how to run a government; you run a government by people challenging your view.”
The senator also raised concerns over the involvement of Tinubu’s family in government affairs, stressing that Nigeria is a democracy, not a monarchy. “Throughout when Peter Obi was governor, did you ever hear about his children? Did you ever hear about his wife? No. You don’t put your family in the public, you don’t let them continue to use State resources, it’s never done,” he stated.
Abaribe dismissed reports suggesting he sang the popular “on your mandate” song in support of Tinubu, insisting that he maintains independence in the National Assembly. “I have never sang and I will never sing it. When they bring the budget to the National Assembly, we stand up for the Nigerian national anthem, and if people decide to play the mandate song… I sit down, I don’t follow them,” he added.
The lawmaker’s comments highlight ongoing debates about governance style and the influence of family members in the political administration, with Abaribe advocating for a more accountable and transparent government structure.
He concluded that Nigeria’s leadership should encourage dissenting opinions and open dialogue, emphasising that a democratic government must be accountable to its citizens rather than operating with unquestioned authority.
