By John Akubo, Abuja
Presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the February 2023 poll, Peter Obi, has reacted to the viral video of the long convoy of President Bola Tinubu in Lagos on Wednesday, saying leaders, who ask followers to sacrifice for a better Nigeria, must also lead by example.
He spoke against the background of the outrage being expressed by Nigerians over the “outlandish display of power by Asiwaju Bola Tinubu during a recent visit to Lagos State.”
Speaking yesterday at St. Faith Cathedral, Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), Awka, during the burial Mass of the late Dean Emeritus of the ministry, the Most Reverend Maxwell Anikwenwa, who died at 83, Obi stressed the need to reduce cost of governance.
The former governor of Anambra State, who said he had not seen the viral video of the motorcade, however, described the development as absurd.
His words: “I have not seen the video you talked about, but let me tell you what I have always said: The present Nigeria requires that all those who serve and lead must do so by example.
“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.
“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, while eulogising the late cleric, noted: “He is 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 is 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.”
A statement from the Obi-Datti media organisation, signed by Diran Onifade, recalled that over two weeks ago, the President, in his Democracy Day address, called on Nigerians to sacrifice more in the wake of the removal of subsidy on petrol, which had not only pushed the cost of petrol up, but also led to high prices of goods and services.
It reads in part: “The Obi-Datti Media like millions of Nigerians, whose sense of decency has been affronted by Asiwaju Tinubu’s unbridled tendency to flaunt power and position, joins our presidential candidate in pointing the hypocrisy inherent in Tinubu’s action.
“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.”
Source: The Guardian
