By Ayomide Otitoju
Former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi has said that holding the office of the President of Nigeria should come with a deep sense of responsibility and compassion for the people—not indifference.
Obi, speaking on the Sunday Politics programme, criticized President Bola Tinubu for what he described as a lack of empathy, particularly in the face of national tragedies and widespread suffering.
“If I become president, I will use the nation’s resources effectively. I won’t approve the purchase of a new jet,” Obi said. “I don’t need one. You can travel anywhere without a private jet. I will not spend ₦150 billion on a jet when 80 percent of our primary healthcare centres are not functioning.”
The former Anambra State governor questioned the justification of luxury amid widespread hardship, recalling his own time in office. “As governor, I drove a Peugeot 406 for the first four years and refused to use bulletproof cars. When you do the right thing, no one wants to harm you. Fear comes when you are doing wrong,” he stated.
Obi maintained that leadership must come with a willingness to make sacrifices, adding, “If your people are dying, you should be ready to die. A president must be willing to pay the ultimate price if need be.”
He accused President Tinubu of showing disregard for the suffering of Nigerians, pointing to the president’s choice to vacation in Lagos during the 2024 Christmas holidays while grieving families in Ibadan mourned the deaths of children who died in a stampede at a party.
“There was no compassion. Children—our future leaders—died, and the president went on a holiday,” Obi lamented.
He also criticised the president’s handling of a deadly attack in Benue State. While Tinubu visited the state, Obi noted that he failed to travel to Yelwata, a community ravaged by herdsmen attacks, citing poor roads and floods as his reason.
Obi called for a new era of compassionate leadership, stressing that Nigeria needs a president who genuinely cares. “People want a president who wakes up thinking about their wellbeing. Leadership without compassion is a minus. It is not good for any country,” he concluded.
