If Nigerians Are Dying, The President Should Be Willing to Die Too – Peter Obi

Presidential hopeful and former Anambra State governor, Peter Obi, has sharply criticized President Bola Tinubu’s administration, accusing it of mismanaging scarce national resources and showing a lack of compassion toward the suffering of ordinary Nigerians.

Speaking during an interview on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics on July 6, Obi stressed that leadership is a responsibility grounded in service and sacrifice not luxury or detachment.

“If your people are dying, you should be ready to die. The president should also be ready to die,” Obi declared.

He argued that the presidency should be about serving the people selflessly, not about comfort and personal gain. “I don’t need a private jet to function. I will not approve ₦150 billion for a new jet while over 80% of primary healthcare centres are not working,” he said.

>ALSO READ: Nine Killed, Four Injured in Boko Haram Attack on Malam Fatori – Borno Govt Assures Enhanced Security

Obi emphasized his own record as governor:

“For my first four years, I drove a Peugeot 406. I never used bulletproof cars. If you do the right thing, no one wants to harm you. It’s when leaders act wrongly that they start to fear for their lives.”

⸻

Criticisms of President Tinubu’s Conduct

Obi accused President Tinubu of being indifferent to national tragedies, citing two specific incidents:
• In December 2024, when a stampede at a Christmas party in Ibadan claimed the lives of several children, Obi noted that Tinubu chose to remain in Lagos on holiday instead of visiting grieving families.

“There was no compassion. Children future leaders — died, and he went on a Christmas holiday.”

•   On the Benue State killings, Obi criticised Tinubu for visiting the state but failing to travel to Yelwata, the community most affected by the suspected herdsmen attacks that claimed dozens of lives and displaced thousands. The president had cited flooded roads and poor infrastructure as reasons for not visiting.

Obi concluded by promising a different style of leadership one rooted in empathy, accountability, and prudent resource management.