Obi presses Tinubu to remember ‘those who lead must do so by example’
By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
Leaders who counsel citizens must lead by example, and must not be seen to act contrary to what they preach, Peter Obi has cautioned Bola Tinubu, pressing him to reduce the cost of governance in line with the general hardship in the country.
The Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate cited the viral video of Tinubu’s long convoy in Lagos last Wednesday which had more than 100 vehicles, many of them SUVs each of which fuel tank requires N45,000 to fill up.
Obi criticised the “outlandish display of power by Bola Tinubu during a recent visit to Lagos” when he spoke at St. Faith Cathedral, Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), Awka, during the burial mass for the Dean Emeritus of the ministry, Maxwell Anikwenwa, who died at 83.
“The present Nigeria requires that all those who serve and lead must do so by example,” he stressed.
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What society requires today
“The behaviour, character and public conduct of those who serve must be in consonance with what society requires today. You cannot continue to preach to the people to sacrifice without sacrificing,” Obi added, per The Guardian.
“The sacrifice must start with the leaders, visibly measurably at all times, because the people are suffering, and we must all be at the forefront of the suffering.”
Obi noted the good example set by Anikwenwa, saying: “He was not just a Pastor of God, but a great Nigerian who contributed to this country beyond his pastoral work in building a better Nigeria.
“He was involved in advocating for a better Nigeria, good governance and others. He was a great Nigerian and a great Igbo man, and I am not surprised about the number of people at [this] burial ceremony today.”
Obi-Datti Media Organistion reacts
A statement issued by the Obi-Datti Media Organisation, signed by Diran Onifade, recounted how Tinubu, in his Democracy Day address, urged Nigerians to sacrifice more in the wake of the removal of fuel subsidy, which has pushed up the cost of petrol and raised prices of goods and services.
“The Obi-Datti Media, like millions of Nigerians whose sense of decency has been affronted by Tinubu’s unbridled tendency to flaunt power and position, joins our presidential candidate in pointing the hypocrisy inherent in Tinubu’s action,” Onifade said.
“For a man, who promised to cut the cost of governance to be moving around with an over-bloated convoy of security details and aides, surely speaks volumes of his ‘do what I say and not what I do’ attitude.”
