It was in a modest buka in the heart of Lagos, amid the steam rising from pots of jollof rice and egusi soup that a frustrated but passionate voice rang out with the kind of clarity that could only come from a place of sincerity: “Atiku, commot for road make Obi enter Aso Rock!”
The speaker was Baba Kelechi, a well-known restauranteur in the area and a man not given to idle political talk. But like many Nigerians, he has reached a boiling point, tired of recycled leadership, of dashed hopes, of promises that never materialize. His exclamation is not just street talk; it reflects the growing frustration of a nation yearning for change and looking for a leader who embodies competence, prudence, and integrity.
Baba Kelechi’s words are now fast becoming a street-side slogan, repeated in bus stops, markets, beer parlours, and social media timelines. It captures in raw form what many Nigerians are thinking but may be too diplomatic to say: That it is time for Atiku Abubakar to step aside and let Peter Obi lead the charge to rescue Nigeria.
Atiku has tried, not once, not twice, but serially since the return of democracy. His ambition is no secret. He has the political network, financial muscle, and experience, but experience alone no longer excites Nigerians. After decades of leadership dominated by the so-called “experienced hands,” the country is poorer, hungrier, more insecure, and hopeless than ever before.
Nigerians are no longer swayed by long political résumés padded with decades of public service that yielded little real transformation. What they are looking for now is leadership that works, leadership with a proven record, clean hands, and a clear head. Peter Obi represents that aspiration.
Calls for Obi to play second fiddle once again, to be Atiku’s running mate, amount to political sabotage and public betrayal. In 2019, he ran alongside Atiku on the PDP platform and gave a good account of himself. But 2023 changed everything. Obi emerged as a political force on his own, building a mass movement of youths, professionals, and ordinary Nigerians who saw in him a man different from the usual suspects.
He did not need the traditional political structure. He had something stronger: the trust of the people. That trust was built not on tribal loyalty or financial inducement but on his record and character.
To suggest that Obi should return to the backseat after carrying the hopes of millions during the last election is to ignore the loud cry for a new Nigeria. He is no longer just a candidate; he is a symbol of what Nigeria could be if the right people were in power.
He should not be a running mate again, not to Atiku or anyone else. He should be the “main driver”, not the spare tyre.
Without a doubt, Atiku has done his bit, therefore, it is time for him to step aside. Let us not pretend. Atiku Abubakarhas paid his dues. He has contributed to Nigerian politics in many ways and served as Vice President during one of the most stable civilian administrations. But now, he is more of a relic of the past than a bridge to the future.
There is nothing wrong with stepping aside to allow a younger, more dynamic and widely trusted candidate to take the lead, especially when that candidate has captured the imagination of the nation.
If Atiku truly believes in rescuing Nigeria, as he claims, then he must also believe in putting the best candidate forward. That candidate is not him. It is Obi. Supporting Obi would not diminish Atiku. It would, in fact, elevate him to the status of a statesman who could finally prove that his passion is not just about ambition, but about nation-building.
History has shown us that great leaders are not always those who hold power to the end, but those who know when to let go and support what is best for their country.
With the unveiling of the Alliance Democratic Congress (ADC) into serious national reckoning, a viable third force has finally appeared on the horizon. Unlike the APC and PDP, which have failed Nigerians over the years, the ADC is still relatively untainted, a blank canvas waiting for the right vision to be drawn upon it.
If Obi receives the ADC’s presidential ticket, the platform could become the vehicle for genuine political transformation. Nigerians are ready. They are already disillusioned with the two dominant parties and are craving something different, a platform that puts people before politics.
But the ADC must not waste this moment by selling tickets to the highest bidder or aligning with failed politicians looking for a new hiding place. They must put forward a candidate with both the competence and credibility to galvanize the country toward a new direction. And that candidate, undeniably, is Peter Obi.
There is no denying that Nigeria is bleeding. Inflation is suffocating families. Security is collapsing. Education is in tatters. Millions of young people are fleeing the country because they have lost faith in their homeland.
The old guard is clearly out of ideas. They offer no innovation, no fresh solutions, just recycled slogans and political trickery. Obi is among the few politicians who speak with data, who walk the talk, and who inspire the kind of hope that could begin to pull Nigeria back from the edge. This is why Baba Kelechi’s words hit differently: “Atiku, commot for road make Obi enter Aso Rock”.
It is not a campaign slogan; it is an emotional cry for survival. It is the voice of the streets. The voice of everyday Nigerians who are tired of political chess games and simply want to live a better life.
This is not the time for political politeness. Nigeria is in a state of emergency, and only bold, visionary leadership can turn things around. The battle for 2027, or whenever the next opportunity arises, should not be about political turn-taking or entitlement. It should be about competence, integrity, and vision.
Peter Obi has those qualities. Atiku, for all his efforts, no longer represents the kind of change Nigerians crave. He should step aside, not out of defeat, but out of patriotism.
Let the ADC rise to the occasion. Let political egos be buried. Let the cries from the buka, the markets, the campuses, and the trenches be heard. Because when the people speak, smart politicians listen.
And what the people are saying, loud and clear, is this: “Atiku, commot for road make Obi enter Aso Rock for 2027”. Let it not be said that this advice was ignored.
