Presidential hopeful Peter Obi says being Nigerian president is a responsibility that should engender compassion and not nonchalance.
Obi, who was a guest on Sunday Politics programme, believes that a president should be ready to pay the supreme price if his or her people are dying.
“If I become president, I will use resources effectively. I cannot say: ‘buy a new jet’,” Obi said whilst accusing the Bola Tinubu administration of being unfeeling to the plight of the people.
“I don’t need one because I can go anywhere without a jet. I will not use ₦150bn to buy a jet when 80% of primary healthcare centres are not functioning.
“I was a governor, and for my first four years, I drove 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,” he said.
The former Anambra State governor accused President Bola Tinubu of being unfeeling to the plight of Nigerians. He said Tinubu chose to go on Christmas holiday in Lagos in December 2024 instead of visiting Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, where several children died in a stampede at a Christmas party.
”There is no compassion; people lost their children who will lead this country in the future, and he went on a Christmas holiday.”
Obi also criticised Tinubu over the attack in Benue State, saying he went to Benue but failed to reach Yelwata, where suspected herdsmen killed scores and displaced thousands of people. Tinubu had explained that bad roads and floods prevented him from visiting the distressed community.
