Nigerians are suffering, you can't ask people to sacrifice without sacrificing - Peter Obi slams Tinubu over large convoy

The 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi has a swipe at President Bola Tinubu over his lavish display of motorcade during his return to the country from his first international trip.

Recall that on Tuesday, President Bola Tinubu arrived the country after a week out of the country to attend a summit in Paris among other matters.

Upon his arrival, over 100 vehicles were spotted in a convoy which was said to belong to President Tinubu. This caused an outrage among Nigerians as they expressed their displeasure at the lavish show of tax payers money.

Sharing his thoughts on the issue, Peter Obi said that leaders to lead by example when asking citizens to make sacrifices.

He said this during an interview on Thursday, at St. Faith Cathedral, Church of Nigeria Anglican Communion, Awka, during the burial of the late Dean Emeritus of the Church of Nigeria, the Most Reverend Maxwell Anikwenwa, who died at 83.

He reiterated his stance that cutting down on the cost of governance is necessary.

He said: “I have not seen the video you talked about, but let me tell you what I have always said: that 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 speaking on the life of the late Archbishop Anikwenwa, said: “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 organization, signed by Diran Onifade, stated that;

“Not even the military known for their brash and unbridled display of raw naked power dared to exhibit such recklessness.

“The present Nigeria requires that all those who serve and lead must do so by example. Their behavior and their public conduct must be in consonance with what society requires today.

“We cannot continue to preach for the people to sacrifice without sacrificing, too. The sacrifice must now start from the leaders, visibly, measurably at all times because the people are suffering; and we must now be at the forefront of the suffering,” the campaign organisation said.

“All Those Who Serve & Lead Must Do So By Example…Sacrifice Must Start From the Leaders…” —HE Peter Obi When Asked To Speak on the 124 Fleet Convoy of Tinubu pic.twitter.com/CwKomCSB9L

— Pearls (@MissPearls) June 29, 2023