Last weekend, Dr. Tony Nwoye, an Anambra senator elected on the platform of the Labour Party, united Nigerians in condemning a project he announced on the X (formerly Twitter) platform. Giving all the glory to God in the usual manner of Nigerian political actors, he posted images of a bungalow purportedly situated in Aguleri Community, Anambra East, which he branded a “Tech Innovation and Computer Hub.”
Brimming with pride, Nwoye described it as a “befitting infrastructure” for the youths of the community and even urged residents to protect the crown jewel from vandalism. Except that there was nothing to vandalize. The building looked more like the dispensary of an underfunded model school than a tech hub. It lay on undeveloped land in what seemed like a forgotten area of the community, raising questions about accessibility and the quality of learning. In general, it was evident that Nwoye was in search of cheap applause and eager to “cut a ribbon.” It doesn’t matter that it is to a generously painted ‘hut’ with an outdoor sign that reads “tech hub.”
Unwilling to cave to criticism that his flagship project was ill-thought and poorly executed, Nwoye has since launched an elaborate defense, even if the conflict is with his own words. He no longer “attracted” the project as he said in the initial statement but, in fact, “singlehandedly built it” to help his people. Mounting a defense on the source of the funds misses the point. Whether it was financed by public funds or private fortune, it remains troubling that in the year 2024, a Senator thought such a “project” should earn him public acclaim. Even more troubling is his conviction that it is a “befitting infrastructure” for his people. There is no doubt that the senator would not send any of his offspring to “acquire skills” in such a building.
Aside from Nwoye’s folly, the episode also highlights the dilemma faced by Obi’s supporters, who, stuck in campaign mode, insist that all matters must be viewed through a partisan lens. In their alternative universe, everything APC/PDP is bad and must be condemned, while everything Labour Party is good and should be defended. This is despite the fact that the core of the Labour Party essentially comprises ex-PDP/APC stalwarts in search of political revival. Some could argue that this includes Obi himself, who left the PDP only after it became clear he wasn’t going to win its presidential primary in the last election.
Thus, to join in the criticism of Nwoye, a member of their saintly party, several Obidients bent themselves into pretzels, with some beginning with a disclaimer that the man, who is literally a representative of the party in the National Assembly, does not, in fact, represent the party. But Nwoye is not an exception to the norm, and the Labour Party has not shown itself different from other political parties in the country. The same party recently suspended its treasurer for accusing the chairman of embezzlement.
It seems obvious that the plan was to use elected LP members as a contrast to other political actors on how to lead. But it is a plan that failed spectacularly so far, leaving their supporters with the dilemma of overlooking glaring misdeeds or criticizing them with laughable caveats.
