Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, has issued a stern warning that Nigeria’s ongoing leadership failures will persist if voters continue to prioritize tribal allegiance over competence and integrity.
In a statement posted on his official X (formerly Twitter) account on Monday, Obi emphasized that true leadership demands four essential qualities: Competence, Capacity, Character, and Compassion. Without these, he argued, no amount of political maneuvering can steer the nation toward progress.
“Leadership of a nation is either succeeding or failing—there is no hiding from this reality. For a country to move forward, leadership must embody four critical Cs: Competence, Capacity, Character, and Compassion. Where these are absent, no magic can fix the nation’s challenges,” Obi wrote.
The former governor of Anambra State lamented Nigeria’s painful experience with leaders lacking these core traits and called on Nigerians to shift their voting patterns away from tribal and religious loyalties.
“Nigeria urgently needs leaders who understand the country’s complex problems, who possess the knowledge and experience to address them effectively,” Obi added. “This role demands more than a ceremonial figurehead; it requires strength, stamina, and mental resilience to confront our challenges head-on.”
Highlighting the importance of character and integrity, Obi stressed that without them, “public trust collapses, corruption flourishes, and selfishness prevails.” He underscored compassion as the final, crucial pillar of leadership—without which “human lives become statistics and suffering goes unnoticed.”
Obi referenced recent tragedies—the devastating floods in Niger State, which claimed nearly 200 lives, and the brutal attack in Benue State, where over 200 innocent civilians, including soldiers, were massacred—as glaring examples of where Nigerian leadership fell short.
“Despite the proximity of these tragedies to the seat of power, not a single presidential visit has been made. No words of comfort, no genuine national mourning, no leadership to console grieving families or inspire hope,” he lamented.
In sharp contrast, Obi praised the compassionate leadership demonstrated by foreign counterparts. “When a plane crash killed nearly 200 people in India, their Prime Minister was on site within hours. In South Africa, the president personally visited flood-affected communities, standing with the people and taking responsibility.”
“That is the kind of leadership Nigeria desperately needs,” Obi said. “Leadership that values human life, shows empathy, and embodies accountability. Sadly, here, we have normalized leadership devoid of empathy, devoid of accountability, and without a human face.”
He concluded with a resolute call to action: “Nigeria does not just need another president. It needs a leader with Competence, Capacity, Character, and Compassion. Until Nigerians choose leaders based on these principles, the cycle of pain will continue unabated.”
