Between political maturity and the rapidity of Obidient mobs: Soludo’s one-term comment and the danger of a single story
By
Frank Odion
“The consequence of the single story is that it robs people of dignity.” – Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
When celebrated author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie warned about the dangers of a “single story” in her now-famous TED Talk, few could have predicted how relevant that message would remain in today’s volatile political landscape. Yet, in Nigeria’s current climate of instant social media outrage and half-baked narratives, that warning resonates more than ever.
The recent controversy surrounding Anambra State Governor, Professor Chukwuma Charles Soludo, offers a prime example. A short video clip of the governor speaking at an endorsement rally — in which he cautioned against politicians who promise to serve only one term — quickly went viral, with many wrongly interpreting it as an attack on Peter Obi, the 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate and leading figure of the Obidient movement.
The outcry, mostly driven by members of the Obidient camp, reflects a broader problem: the tendency to jump to conclusions without understanding the full context or intent behind political commentary.
In reality, Governor Soludo’s statement had no reference whatsoever to Peter Obi or the presidential race. The comment was directed at Prince Nicholas Ukachukwu, a governorship aspirant from Anambra South under the All Progressives Congress (APC), who had pledged to serve just one term if elected.
To understand the context, one must consider Anambra’s unwritten zoning arrangement, which rotates the governorship among its three senatorial districts — South, Central, and North. Soludo, from Anambra South, is currently in his first term and is expected to seek a second. By convention, the next governor should emerge from Anambra Central.
Soludo’s objection to Ukachukwu’s one-term promise was based on the suspicion that it is a political ploy to derail this long-standing rotation. According to the governor, Ukachukwu’s proposal is not about service, but a calculated attempt to jump the queue and reset the zoning arrangement in his favour.
Unfortunately, the governor’s message was stripped of its local context by click-driven blogs and social media users, resulting in a misleading single story. What followed was a wave of criticism, with many accusing Soludo of targeting Peter Obi — a claim not backed by the content or intent of his speech.
This scenario highlights the responsibility of both media practitioners and political supporters to engage more thoughtfully with political discourse. It also underscores the urgent need for responsible journalism, one that presents full context rather than cherry-picked soundbites designed to stir controversy.
Rather than attacking Soludo for a non-existent slight, the Obidient movement would do better to promote mature political engagement and policy-driven dialogue. Reacting with outrage to every perceived slight dilutes the strength of their political message and reduces public discourse to a toxic shouting match.
Going forward, Nigerians must recognize the dangers of context-free narratives. We must pause, verify, and ask critical questions before jumping to conclusions — especially in a political environment as polarized as ours.
In the end, democracy thrives not in silence or agreement, but in respectful, informed debate. If our political conversations continue to be hijacked by impulsive outrage, we risk turning every disagreement into a crisis — and every political opponent into an enemy.
Our democracy deserves better.
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