The South East Revival Group (SERG) has criticized recent attacks by actor-turned-politician Kenneth Okonkwo against former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, saying the comments have raised serious questions about Okonkwo’s consistency and credibility.
In a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Hon. Nnaemeka Aleke, the group said Okonkwo’s latest criticisms of Obi appear to contradict the strong endorsements he gave the former Anambra State governor during the build-up to the 2023 presidential election.
According to SERG, Okonkwo was not just an ordinary supporter of Obi but one of his most visible defenders and advocates in the public space.
The group recalled that the Nollywood actor repeatedly presented Obi as a leader with exceptional qualities and urged Nigerians to support his presidential ambition.
“For years, he presented Peter Obi as a leader defined by integrity, prudence, competence, transparency, accountability and transformational leadership. He publicly vouched for Obi’s character, judgment, capacity and fitness for the presidency,” the statement said.
SERG questioned which version of Kenneth Okonkwo Nigerians should believe.
It asked whether the public should trust the Kenneth Okonkwo who passionately campaigned for Obi and described him as one of Nigeria’s finest political leaders, or the Kenneth Okonkwo who is now openly criticising the same individual following the collapse of their political relationship.
“The Kenneth Okonkwo who passionately told Nigerians that Peter Obi was one of the finest political leaders in contemporary Nigeria, or the Kenneth Okonkwo who now seeks to portray the same man differently? Both versions cannot be true,” the group stated.
According to SERG, if Okonkwo’s earlier endorsements of Obi were sincere and accurate, then his present criticisms become difficult to understand.
On the other hand, the group argued, if his current allegations against Obi are true, Nigerians would be justified in questioning why he previously promoted the former governor as a suitable presidential candidate.
The group said the situation leaves the public with only two possible conclusions.
Either Okonkwo misled Nigerians when he strongly supported Obi during the election period, or he is misleading them now through his recent comments.
The latest exchange is the latest chapter in the deteriorating relationship between Obi and Okonkwo, who were once close political allies within the Labour Party.
Kenneth Okonkwo, a lawyer and popular Nollywood actor, emerged as one of Obi’s prominent spokespersons during the 2023 presidential campaign.
He frequently appeared on television and other media platforms defending Obi’s policies and responding to critics of the Labour Party candidate.
However, disagreements later emerged within the party over leadership issues and the direction of the movement that had attracted millions of supporters across the country.
Those differences eventually widened, leading to a breakdown in the relationship between some former allies.
SERG also recalled that this was not the first time political relationships had changed dramatically in Nigeria.
The group referred to Okonkwo’s previous criticisms of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and noted how political alignments often reshape relationships among politicians.
It further cited the example of Daniel Bwala, who had once criticised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu before later joining his administration.
According to the group, while Nigerians understand that politicians have the right to change their opinions and affiliations, frequent shifts in position often create doubts about sincerity and principle.
The organisation said many Nigerians are becoming increasingly sceptical of public figures whose views appear to change depending on prevailing political circumstances.
“People have a right to change their opinions, but Nigerians are increasingly cautious of political actors whose convictions seem to shift with changing alliances,” the statement implied.
SERG’s intervention also comes amid reports that Peter Obi may pursue legal action against Kenneth Okonkwo over some of the allegations made against him.
There have been reports of a proposed N5 billion defamation suit allegedly being considered by the former Labour Party presidential candidate.
Although Obi has not publicly elaborated on the details of the alleged legal action, SERG said the courts remain the proper place to resolve disputes involving serious allegations.
“The courtroom is where evidence is tested, facts are scrutinised and truth is separated from propaganda. If Kenneth Okonkwo possesses credible evidence, he should present it before the court,” the group stated.
The organisation urged Obi not to allow threats of further revelations distract him from his political engagements.
It advised him to permit any legal process to take its course if he believes judicial intervention has become necessary.
At the same time, SERG called on Okonkwo to apologise to Obi and Nigerians.
According to the group, his present statements appear inconsistent with the confidence and assurances he previously gave the public regarding Obi’s character and leadership qualities.
The organisation maintained that Nigerians should not allow the changing opinions of politicians to determine their assessment of leaders.
Instead, it advised citizens to evaluate political figures based on their track records, values and achievements.
SERG argued that consistency of conviction remains a stronger indicator of character than political convenience.
It added that history often judges leaders and public figures not by the popularity of their positions at a particular moment, but by their ability to remain faithful to principles they publicly profess.
As political activities gradually gather momentum ahead of future elections, the group said Nigerians must remain vigilant and critically assess the motives behind public statements made by political actors.
For SERG, the ongoing disagreement between Obi and Okonkwo offers an important lesson on the need for integrity, consistency and accountability in Nigeria’s political space.