Obi faults Tinubu’s lack of “compassion” for citizens, cites his “detachment” and failure to visit Ibadan and Yelewata where dozens of lives were lost
By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
Your office requires sacrifice and compassion, not detachment, luxury, or fear, Peter Obi has reiterated to Bola Tinubu in his latest take on the attitude of the President to the discharge of his duties which citizens hardly feel on the ground.
Obi insisted on Channels Television that both Tinubu and his administration are disconnected from the suffering of ordinary Nigerians.
“If I become President, I will use resources effectively. I cannot say, ‘buy a new jet.’ I don’t need one because I can go anywhere without a jet,” Obi stressed in his pitch for the presidential vote in 2027 on which all major contestants have begun to focus.
“I will not use N150 billion to buy a jet when 80 per cent of primary healthcare centres are not functioning.”
Obi, a member of the Labour Party (LP) and former Anambra Governor, said his time in office was marked by modest living and responsible governance.
“I was a Governor, and for my first four years, I drove [a Peugeot] 406. For the rest of it, I didn’t drive bulletproof cars.
“Nobody will try to kill you if you do the right thing. It is when you do the wrong thing that you fear death.
“If your people are dying, you should be ready to die. The President should also be ready to die.”
Obi faulted Tinubu’s response to major national tragedies in 2024, including the stampede at a Christmas party in Ibadan that led to the death of dozens of people, including several children.
He noted that Tinubu opted to remain in Lagos for that holiday period instead of visiting grieving families in Ibadan that is less than 200 kilometres away from his private residence in Lagos where he was enjoying himself.
“There is no compassion; people lost their children who will lead this country in the future, and he went on a Christmas holiday.”
He also criticised Tinubu for failing last month to visit Yelewata in Benue where terrorists killed more than 200 residents and displaced thousands of others.
“People want to get up and see a President thatcares, a President that shows compassion.
“Today we have a country without compassion. Leadership without compassion thus is a minus. It is not good for a country.”
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