Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, has urged President Bola Tinubu to exhibit more compassion towards Nigerians.
Obi stressed that the presidency requires sacrifice and empathy, rather than detachment and extravagance.
In an interview on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics, Obi criticized the Tinubu administration for being disconnected from the everyday struggles of citizens.
He remarked, “If I were president, I would prioritize prudent use of resources. I don’t need a new jet to travel I can go anywhere without one. Spending N150 billion on a jet is unjustifiable when 80% of primary healthcare centers remain non-functional.”
Reflecting on his time as governor of Anambra State, Obi pointed to his humble lifestyle and responsible governance.
“For the first four years, I drove a Peugeot 406 and didn’t rely on bulletproof vehicles. Fear arises from wrongdoing, not from doing what is right.”
Obi also emphasized that leaders must be prepared to share the risks faced by their people.
“If your people are dying, you must be willing to die alongside them. A president should be ready to make such sacrifices.”
He further condemned President Tinubu’s response to major tragedies in 2024, including the deadly stampede at a Christmas party in Ibadan and the attacks in Yelwata, Benue State.
Obi criticized Tinubu for remaining in Lagos during the holiday period instead of visiting affected families, describing this as a lack of compassion.
“People want to see a president who cares, who shows empathy. Leadership without compassion is a serious deficiency that harms the nation,” Obi concluded.
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