In War You Don’t Just Strengthen Your Forces, You Must Also Weaken Your Enemy: The Tinubu, Obi, and Reno Omokri Factor in Nigerian Politics

By Gbenga Moses Akinyemi

Politics is war by other means. And in war, it is not enough to strengthen your own camp; you must also weaken your opponent. This ancient principle of strategy is alive and active in Nigeria’s political space today.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu understands this rule better than most. While he is consolidating his government, tightening his grip on power, and building alliances, his greatest advantage lies not only in what he is gaining but also in what his opponents are losing.

And nowhere is this clearer than in the case of Peter Obi and the so-called Obidient movement.

The Rise and Struggles of Peter Obi

Peter Obi rode into the 2023 elections on a wave of youthful enthusiasm, fresh messaging, and the promise of change. His campaign captured the imagination of millions who were tired of the old order.
But politics isn’t just about energy; it’s about structure. While Obi had momentum, he lacked the deep-rooted political machinery necessary to translate street passion into actual victory at the polls. That structural weakness has only become more obvious since the elections.
The Obidient movement, once a fiery storm, is now showing cracks: divisions, inconsistent messaging, and the absence of a clear political roadmap for the future.

Tinubu’s Dual Strategy: Strengthen and Weaken

President Tinubu has always been a strategist. His political career is proof of a man who plays the long game, building influence brick by brick.
But he also knows that no general wins a war by only building his own forces. The enemy must be divided, distracted, and weakened.
By consolidating power at the center and ensuring his government projects strength, Tinubu leaves little room for the opposition to claim momentum. And with Obi’s internal weaknesses exposed, the president hardly needs to lift a finger; his opponent is undoing himself.

The Reno Omokri Factor

Enter Reno Omokri, one of the most vocal critics of Peter Obi. While many dismiss Reno as simply a social media agitator, his relentless focus on Obi has real political consequences.
Every post, every video, and every analysis he shares chips away at Obi’s credibility. Reno has successfully positioned himself as a thorn in the flesh of the Obidient movement, constantly reminding Nigerians of Obi’s flaws, contradictions, and limitations.
This does two things simultaneously:

1. It weakens Obi’s image in the public eye, especially among undecided voters who may once have been curious about him.
2. It divides Obi’s base, forcing them to constantly defend him online instead of building real political strength on the ground.

In effect, Reno has become an unofficial ally to Tinubu’s camp, whether intentionally or not. By taking on Obi directly, he relieves APC of the need to do all the heavy lifting in discrediting the opposition.

Lessons from the Battlefield

What we see here is the application of an age-old war strategy in Nigerian politics:

• Strengthen your own side: Tinubu is consolidating power and projecting stability.
• Weaken your opponent’s side: Obi is left battling internal cracks and external critics like Reno.

It is this combination, not just one side of the equation, that determines political victory.

Conclusion: Chess vs. Checkers

Politics in Nigeria today is a game of chess, not checkers. Tinubu is three moves ahead, carefully building strength while watching his opponents weaken themselves.

Peter Obi, on the other hand, appears stuck in defense mode, reacting instead of strategizing. And with voices like Reno Omokri amplifying his weaknesses, the Obidient wave risks becoming nothing more than a memory.

In war, you don’t win by being the loudest. You win by being the smartest. Tinubu knows this. The real question is, will Obi ever learn?