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Former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has shared reflections from the unveiling of a new book by Professor Akinyemi Onigbinde, titled The Manifesto of a Stubborn Goat, describing it as a courageous and timely intervention in Nigeria’s national discourse.
In a post on his X handle on Monday, January 26, 2026 at 11:23 pm, Obi said he attended the book presentation in Ibadan after an earlier engagement with students of Dominican University. He noted that the themes explored in the book echo long-standing concerns about Nigeria’s development challenges and leadership choices.
Obi compared the work to Growing Apart by Professor Peter Lewis, a book he said highlights Nigeria’s tendency to recognise the right path but consistently choose otherwise. According to him, this same pattern is critically examined in Onigbinde’s essays, which confront the country’s political, social and economic realities without sentiment.
He stressed that genuine patriotism should not be reduced to uncritical praise of the nation, especially in times of difficulty. Rather, Obi argued, it involves honest assessment of failures and active contribution to solutions that can move the country forward.
The former Anambra State governor said The Manifesto of a Stubborn Goat addresses key national issues, including insecurity, declining public trust, weakening civic values and the urgent need for ethical leadership. He added that the book challenges citizens to remain engaged, reflective and willing to hold leaders and institutions accountable.
Obi further explained that the central metaphor of the “stubborn goat” represents principled resistance and moral courage. He described it as a symbol of citizens who refuse to be passively led in the face of injustice, choosing instead to stand firm even under difficult circumstances.
He commended Professor Onigbinde for what he described as an honest ethical diagnosis of Nigeria and encouraged Nigerians, particularly leaders and young people, to engage with the ideas raised in the book.
