Peter Obi, the 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, has criticized President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration for what he described as a “lack of empathy” in the face of recent national tragedies.
In a post shared on X (formerly Twitter), Obi lamented the administration’s failure to respond compassionately to catastrophic events across the country.
“What cannot be hidden in leadership,” Obi began.
“Leadership is either succeeding or failing—there’s no hiding it. For a nation to move forward, its leadership must possess four critical Cs: Competence, Capacity, Character, and Compassion. Where these are missing, no miracle can fix the situation.”
Obi reiterated his long-standing position that Nigeria must move away from voting based on ethnicity or religion and instead elect leaders who embody these essential qualities.
“We’ve all painfully seen what happens when leadership lacks these qualities.
Competence, because Nigeria needs a leader who understands the issues and has the knowledge and experience to tackle them.
Capacity, because this is not a ceremonial role—it demands stamina, strength, and the mental resolve to confront our deep-rooted challenges.
Character, because integrity is the foundation of public trust; without it, corruption thrives and selfish interests take precedence.
And above all, Compassion, because without empathy, lives are reduced to mere numbers, and suffering is ignored.”
Citing recent tragedies, Obi expressed dismay at the government’s silence and absence.
“In Niger State, flooding claimed nearly 200 lives, and many remain missing. The location is less than an hour away by helicopter—yet not a single presidential visit.
Just days ago, over 200 innocent Nigerians—including women, children, and soldiers—were massacred in Benue State. Again, there was no presidential presence, no national mourning, no comforting words—nothing.”
Obi contrasted this with examples of empathetic leadership from around the world.
“In India, after a plane crash killed nearly 200 people, the Prime Minister was on the ground within hours. In South Africa, when floods killed 78 people, the President went personally to the affected communities, offered support, and took responsibility.
That is what leadership with compassion looks like—leadership that values human life.”
He concluded by stating that what Nigeria needs is not just another president, but a true leader.
“We’ve normalised a kind of leadership in Nigeria that lacks empathy, accountability, and a human face.
This is why I keep saying: Nigeria doesn’t just need a president. Nigeria needs a leader—one with competence, capacity, character, and compassion. Until we choose our leaders based on these principles, the cycle of suffering will continue.”
“A New Nigeria is POssible.” — Peter Obi
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