BREAKING: I Asked Myself, If I Leave Asiwaju and Go to Obi, What is Different Between Asiwaju and Obi? – Elliot

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Member of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Desmond Elliot, has raised concerns about the lack of clear ideological distinctions among Nigeria’s leading political figures, arguing that the country’s politics is often centered on personalities rather than principles.

Speaking on a television programme hosted by Morayo Afolabi-Brown on Tuesday, the actor and politician reflected on his more than a decade-long experience in public service and questioned the ideological foundations of Nigeria’s political system.

Elliot noted that political discussions in the country frequently revolve around individuals and party affiliations, while deeper conversations about governance philosophies and policy directions remain largely absent.

Using prominent political figures as examples, he wondered what fundamental differences separate politicians who belong to different parties.

According to him, he often asks whether moving from the camp of President Bola Tinubu, popularly known as Asiwaju, to that of former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi would represent a genuine ideological shift. He posed a similar question regarding a move from Obi to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar.

Elliot stressed that politicians should be able to clearly identify the beliefs and principles that guide their decisions. In his view, political actors ought to be defined by their positions on key issues such as economic management, social welfare, and governance strategies rather than by loyalty to influential personalities.

In his words, “I ask myself: if I leave Asiwaju and go to Obi, what is different between Asiwaju and Obi? If I leave Obi and go to Atiku, what is my difference? What is my ideological difference? What defines me? What makes me different?” he said.