“Seyi Tinubu’s apparent admiration for Peter Obi is particularly telling. Here is a young man raised in the very heart of Nigeria’s old-guard politics, suddenly looking to Obi—the opposition—as a figure worth watching”
In the theatre of Nigerian politics, symbolism is everything. A smile, a handshake, a photograph—each gesture is interpreted, spun, and sometimes weaponized. But rarely has a simple handshake stirred such euphoria as the one recently exchanged between Peter Obi and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. The APC camp isn’t just excited—they’re salivating. The buzz is deafening, the spin machines are overheating, and social media warriors are declaring a victory that never happened.
But let’s pause and ask: Why does a mere handshake between two political heavyweights ignite such ecstatic frenzy from APC loyalists? Why has this one moment triggered such a flood of projections and propaganda? Why has Seyi Tinubu, the president’s own son, suddenly begun showing public admiration for the man many see as his father’s strongest moral opposite?
Let’s break it down.
THE SYMBOLISM OF POWER AND VALIDATION
The APC knows that Peter Obi is no ordinary opposition figure. In the 2023 elections, he did what many thought impossible: he galvanized a movement without state resources, without a traditional political structure, and without elite endorsements. He represented a generational cry for integrity, accountability, and a break from old systems. That kind of authenticity can’t be manufactured—it’s earned.
So when Obi and Tinubu exchanged pleasantries, the APC saw an opening. To them, it was an opportunity to spin the moment into a narrative of reconciliation or political alignment. A chance to reduce the sharp contrast between Tinubu’s controversial presidency and Obi’s still-pristine public image. If Obi shakes Tinubu’s hand, the thinking goes, then surely he acknowledges his legitimacy. Surely he has softened. Maybe, just maybe, he’s now “one of us.”
But this isn’t political unity. It’s desperation disguised as celebration.
SEYI TINUBU AND THE POLITICS OF ADMIRATION
Seyi Tinubu’s apparent admiration for Peter Obi is particularly telling. Here is a young man raised in the very heart of Nigeria’s old-guard politics, suddenly looking to Obi—the opposition—as a figure worth watching. Whether it’s out of personal respect or political foresight, Seyi’s shift signals a deeper truth: the Tinubu dynasty may be sensing the limits of its narrative. Seyi might be trying to align himself with the values of a new generation before it becomes politically expensive not to.
And that’s the real power Obi holds—not just as a politician, but as a symbol of an idea that refuses to die. The idea that competence, humility, and public service should replace bluster, patronage, and empty sloganeering.
WHY THE APC Is NERVOUS (AND TRYING NOT TO to SHOW IT)
Despite holding power, the APC has been unable to shake the shadow Obi casts. The Obidient movement is still alive, still organizing, still educating, and still refusing to be co-opted. That terrifies the establishment. So every chance to blur the lines—to make Obi appear like just another politician willing to play the same game—is seized with both hands.
The handshake wasn’t just about courtesy—it was a political Rorschach test. APC loyalists saw what they desperately wanted: evidence that Obi has “come around.” But to many others, it was simply a moment of maturity and protocol. Obi didn’t sell out. He didn’t shift camp. He shook a hand. That’s diplomacy, not defection.
2027 AND THE REAL GAME
Let’s not kid ourselves—the 2027 election calculations have already begun. The APC knows that if Obi runs again, especially in a strengthened coalition, they may not survive another wave of youth-driven, issues-based politics. If they can’t beat the idea, they’ll try to neutralize the man behind it. And if they can’t discredit him, they’ll try to cozy up and co-opt his brand.
But Obi is no novice. He understands the stakes. And if his past behavior is anything to go by, he won’t be trading his principles for proximity to power anytime soon.
MY FINAL THOUGHTS
The euphoria in the APC camp isn’t confidence—it’s anxiety wearing a smile. The handshake with Tinubu was a moment, not a message. And as for Seyi’s new admiration for Obi? It’s a quiet admission that even those within the corridors of power recognize authenticity when they see it.
Obi doesn’t need validation from the APC. But clearly, the APC is desperate for some of his.
