2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has called on President Bola Tinubu to demonstrate more compassion in his leadership, saying the role of Nigeria’s president requires “sacrifice and compassion, not detachment, luxury, or fear.”
Speaking during an interview on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics, Peter Obi accused the Tinubu administration of being out of touch with the daily struggles of ordinary Nigerians.
He said,
“If I become president, I will use resources effectively. I cannot say, ‘buy a new jet.’ I don’t need one because I can go anywhere without a jet.
“I will not use N150 billion to buy a jet when 80 per cent of primary healthcare centres are not functioning.”
Reflecting on his tenure as Anambra State governor, Peter Obi emphasized his commitment to modest living and responsible governance.
“I was a governor, and for my first four years, I drove 406. For the rest of it, I didn’t drive bulletproof cars. Nobody will try to kill you if you do the right thing. It is when you do the wrong thing that you fear death.
If your people are dying, you should be ready to die. The president should also be ready to die,” Obi stated.
He also faulted President Tinubu’s handling of national tragedies in 2024, including a deadly stampede at a Christmas party in Ibadan, Oyo State, where several children lost their lives. Obi criticized Tinubu for not visiting the grieving families and instead spending the holidays in Lagos.
“There is no compassion; people lost their children who will lead this country in the future, and he went on a Christmas holiday,” he lamented.
Additionally, Obi condemned Tinubu’s absence in Yelwata, Benue State, where suspected herdsmen attacks led to mass displacement of residents.
“People want to get up and see a president that cares, a president that shows compassion,” Obi said.
“Today we have a country without compassion. Leadership without compassion is a minus. It is not good for a country.”
Peter Obi’s remarks continue to fuel public discourse around the qualities Nigerians expect from their leaders, especially during challenging times.
