Daniel Bwala, Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Media and Policy Communication, has stated that Peter Obi, a chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), will never become president of Nigeria. Speaking on News Central TV's 60 Minutes with Mr Kay on Friday, Bwala dismissed Obi's presidential ambitions, claiming he lacks the traits of a viable leader. "Peter Obi will never be president. He will never cross the central business district that will lead Aso Villa," Bwala said. He argued that a true leader must be visionary, sincere, and organically rooted in grassroots movements, not reliant on manufactured narratives.
Bwala accused Obi of lacking genuine grassroots support, describing his appeal to religious leaders during Muhammadu Buhari's administration as a calculated tactic. According to Bwala, Obi promoted a false narrative that the church was being disenfranchised, using it to gain backing from pastors and bishops. He insisted this strategy does not equate to authentic mass support. The presidential aide maintained that Obi's image contradicts his true character, saying, "the person must be sincere for whatever he is but won't present a picture for what he is totally the opposite for who he is, Peter Obi will never be."
Daniel Bwala's personal attack on Peter Obi reveals more about the insecurities within Tinubu's circle than about Obi's political viability. That a serving presidential aide feels compelled to issue such a categorical dismissal suggests Obi's influence cannot be easily ignored. Bwala's claim that church support isn't grassroots rings hollow in a country where faith shapes public opinion as much as any political structure. For millions of young Nigerians who see Obi as a symbol of change, this outburst confirms that establishment figures fear his appeal.
