By Valentine Amanze
14-07-2025
Great leaders don’t come easy. They emerge natural from a soceity deprived of social justice.
A man born with silverspoon hardly suffers hardship; but lacks the solution to what he ignorant of.
As an undergraduate in the 80s, one of our Ghanaian lecturers told us about a certain UK-based wealthy citizen of Ghana, who returned to Accra for the first time with his children.
He said that while in Accra, one of his children told him that he wanted to be a poor man. His father asked why? The son replied: “In London our teachers tell us sweet stories about poor people of Africa. I have not seen them; I want to be one.”
Most good leaders are products of poor soceities that groomed and grounded them on the challenges ahead. They are always simple and approachable.
Majority of Nigeria’s current political leaders are of the elite; they never tasted poverty.
The late Nelson Mandela of South Africa; the late Fidel Castro of Cuba and the late Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu gave me the idea of humility in service.
They were popular because they humbled themselves before their subjects. You cannot give what you don’t have.
If you are not born with it; you don’t have it.
Nigeria has great leaders, who corrupt system, has denied the opportunity to serve the people.
This is why I am not surprised over the trending story of Mr. Peter Obi, the Labour Party (LP) flagbearer, and the Anambra State former governor, serving food in public.
It is strange to ignorant critcs, who do not know Obi well.
It is not also about politics; it is Obi’s personality – whom he is.
In 2007, as the Regional Editor of Daily Independent Newspapers, my encounter with Peter Obi was amazing.
Before then, my belief was that governors were always inaccessible; with the securitymen surrounding them.
The experience was in Awka, the Anambra State capital, when the government officially recognized the citizens, who had excelled in their various ventures and brought glory to Anambra State.
On arrival, with other journalists, at the venue, was Peter Obi, wearing black suit with black bowtie, welcoming guests and ushering them into the hall, without the securitymen hanging around.
Again, infront of where we sat was his son. The young man, simply dressed (shirt and trouser), was sharing the same bench with members of the Old Rangers International without any security protecting him – blood never lies.
So, Obi, serving food in the public, was not to impress anyone or win people’s votes. It was a built-in system – simplicity and humility.
Obi’s media aide, Mr. Valentine Obienyem, also confirmed that Obi was not a showman, why tries to impress his audience by sharing food in the public.
Obienyem said, “Even as governor, Mr. Peter Obi was known to personally serve food to his guests as part of a deeply held belief in humility and service.
“Till this day, when visitors come to his home, it is not uncommon to see him offering them food himself. It is a habit formed by principle.”
Also read: Nnamdi Kanu’s continued detention unreasonable –Obi
On the photograph in circulation showing Obi serving food at an event, Obienyem explained that it was not a political performance.
Peter Obi serving food to the people.
“It was taken during the Jubilee of Hope – part of the Year of Unity and Hope proclaimed by Pope Francis.
“The event symbolises a reversal of roles – a moment when the privileged serve the poor.
“What Obi did was not for show. It was a quiet, sincere act of humanity – a visible expression of a life built on equity and justice.”
As a Catholic, I know that the Jubilee invites those in authority to step down – even if briefly – from their lofty stations, to walk among the lowly and serve.
But for men like Peter Obi, such humility is not seasonal. It is a way of life.
Recall that other highly placed Nigerians, such as Senator Chijinkem Ugwuanyi, also served food that day.
The furore caused by the gesture arose from it being reported out of context.
I appeal to Nigerian politicians to humble themselves like Obi and stop distancing themselves from the people they lead. A united and progressive Nigeria is possible if we emulate him.
…….
valoa2000@yahoo.com
