In an emotionally charged interview on Sunday Politics, former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi once again stirred national conversation—this time, over President Bola Tinubu’s controversial purchase of a new presidential jet, reportedly worth over ₦150 billion.
With visible restraint and heartfelt conviction, Obi said he found it appalling that such a purchase could be considered in a country where millions still struggle to access basic healthcare and where over 80% of Nigeria’s primary health centres are non-functional.
“If I become president, I will use our resources effectively. I cannot buy a new jet — I don’t need one because you can travel anywhere without it,” he said plainly.
For Obi, the issue goes beyond budgeting—it is a moral question. One that asks whether leaders truly feel the pain of their people. His answer was stark:
“I will not spend ₦150 billion on a jet when 80% of our primary health centres are not functioning.”
Security, or self-indulgence?
When asked about the potential security risks of a president without a private jet, Obi pointed to his own past as Governor of Anambra State. There, he says, he refused to be consumed by fear. He neither used bulletproof cars nor lived in excessive luxury.
“For my first four years, I drove a Peugeot 406. Even afterwards, I never used bulletproof cars,” he shared.
Obi’s philosophy is simple but sobering:
“Nobody will decide to kill you if you’re doing the right thing. It’s when you do the wrong thing that you start fearing death.”
Leadership, he believes, requires sacrifice—not indulgence.
“If your people are dying, you should be ready to die,” he said.
That single sentence—raw, unfiltered, and rare in Nigerian political circles—has since resonated across social media platforms, drawing both admiration and criticism. But for Obi, it sums up what authentic leadership should look like.
A country without compassion
Beyond jets and luxury convoys, Obi took aim at what he called the absence of empathy at the heart of Tinubu’s administration.
“Today, we have a country without compassion. Leadership without compassion doesn’t exist; it is a minus, and it’s not good for a country,” he said.
He emphasised that Nigerians are not just hungry for jobs and economic reforms—they are desperate for a leader who sees them, feels their pain, and puts people over politics.
“People want to wake up and see a president who cares — a president who shows compassion.”
In a political climate often dominated by excuses and finger-pointing, Peter Obi’s voice stands out—not just for what it says, but for what it refuses to accept as normal. For him, leadership isn’t just about power; it’s about priority.
And in a country where private jets are being prioritised over primary healthcare, Obi’s warning is chillingly timely.
