Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s presidential candidate in the 2023 election, has criticised President Bola Tinubu’s administration for what he described as a lack of compassion and care for Nigerians.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics, Obi said Nigeria needs a leader who genuinely prioritises the wellbeing of its citizens, a role he promised to embody if elected president in 2027.
“People want to wake up to a president who cares, a leader who shows compassion,” he said. “Today, we have a country without compassion. Leadership without compassion is no leadership at all, it’s a liability.”
When asked for examples, Obi cited Tinubu’s decision to spend the 2024 Christmas holiday in Lagos rather than visiting Ibadan, where several children died in a stampede during a Christmas party.
“People lost their children, the future leaders of this country, and he went on a Christmas holiday. That shows no compassion,” Obi said.
He also criticised the president’s response to a deadly attack in Benue State, accusing him of failing to visit Yelwata, the specific community affected. Tinubu had earlier blamed bad roads and flooding for not reaching the area.
Obi, a former governor of Anambra State, continues to position himself as a compassionate alternative to the current leadership, promising a people-centered approach if elected in 2027.
