Obi Urges Nigerians: Choose Leaders by Competence, Not Tribe
Obi Urges Nigerians: Choose Leaders by Competence, Not Tribe
Former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has called for a change in how leaders are chosen in Nigeria, urging citizens to prioritise competence, capacity, character, and compassion.
In a statement shared via X on Monday, titled “What Cannot Be Hidden in Leadership,” Obi noted that leadership is either effective or ineffective — and the outcomes are always evident.
“There are critical areas of leadership that must exist for a nation to move forward, and these are summed up in four Cs: Competence, Capacity, Character and Compassion. Where these four are non-existent, there is no magic you can do,” he said.
He reiterated his long-held position that tribal and religious considerations in leadership choices have severely harmed the country.
“We must move away from voting based on tribe and religion, and begin to vote for people with competence, capacity, character, and compassion, because we have all seen, painfully, what leadership without these qualities has done to our country.”
Obi emphasised that competence is vital for understanding and solving Nigeria’s complex challenges, while capacity ensures the stamina and mental strength needed to lead effectively.
“Leadership must be rooted in character and integrity because without integrity, public trust collapses, corruption thrives, and selfishness takes over,” he added. “But perhaps most importantly, we need compassion, because when a leader lacks compassion, human lives are treated as statistics, and suffering is ignored.”
Referencing recent national tragedies, Peter Obi criticised the federal government’s lack of visible response and empathy.
“Just recently, devastating floods in Niger State claimed nearly 200 lives, with many still unaccounted for—yet there was no single presidential visit,” Obi said. “Only a few days ago, over 200 innocent Nigerians—including women, children, and soldiers—were brutally killed in Benue State. Still, there was no visit from the president, no show of concern at the scenes of such deep sorrow, and no genuine national mourning.”
Drawing comparisons with other countries, Obi highlighted how global leaders show up in moments of national grief. “In India, when a plane crash killed nearly 200 people, the Prime Minister was at the scene within hours. In South Africa, after floods took 78 lives, the president personally visited the affected communities, stood with them, and took responsibility.”
“That is leadership with empathy,” he stated. “That is the kind of leadership that values human life. Unfortunately, in Nigeria, we have normalised leadership devoid of compassion, accountability, or a human face.”
He concluded by emphasizing that the nation needs more than a figurehead.
“Nigeria doesn’t just need another president—we need a true leader. A leader with competence, capacity, character, and compassion. Until we begin to elect leaders based on these values, the cycle of suffering will only persist,” Obi said.
