Peter Obi Urges Nigerians to Prioritise Competence Over Tribal Politics

The 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, says Nigeria will continue to suffer from poor leadership unless voters move away from tribal and religious sentiments and begin to elect leaders based on competence and character. In a post shared on his official X handle, Obi emphasised the need for leaders to possess what he described as the “four Cs”: competence, capacity, character and compassion. He warned that where these traits are lacking, no amount of effort can produce good governance.

Obi argued that the consequences of neglecting these leadership qualities are already evident in Nigeria’s current state. He said leadership is either succeeding or failing and cannot be hidden. According to the former Anambra state governor, the country requires a president who understands the issues, possesses the mental and physical capacity to address them, and leads with integrity and empathy.

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Citing recent disasters, Obi expressed disappointment over the federal government’s response. He said the severe flooding in Niger State, which claimed nearly 200 lives, and the killing of more than 200 people in Benue State by suspected terrorists, were examples of national tragedies that received no presidential visit.

In contrast, Obi pointed to the swift responses of leaders in other countries, referencing a plane crash in India and floods in South Africa, where the respective presidents promptly visited affected communities. He described those actions as demonstrations of leadership with compassion and argued that until Nigeria adopts such standards in choosing its leaders, the cycle of suffering will persist.