Presidential candidate of Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi has said that political leaders must lead by example before asking followers to sacrifice for a better Nigeria.
Obi said this while responding to a question from journalists on the viral video of the long convoy of President Bola Tinubu in Lagos on Wednesday.
According to Obi, the media interaction took place at the final commendation service of late Dean Emeritus of the Church of Nigeria, the Late Archbishop Maxwell Anikwenwa in Awka, Anambra State.
“I was ambushed by a group of journalists who asked me to comment on the life of the late clergyman. Promptly, they sought my opinion on a video they said was making the rounds online, allegedly showing Mr President moving with about a 120-car convoy.
While I have not had the opportunity of seeing the said video, my advice remains consistent – that sacrifices for a better Nigeria must start from the leaders at all levels of government because the people have always made painful sacrifices, and the leaders must lead by example,” Obi said in a statement on Friday.
The former Anambra governor noted that the quality of leadership cannot be measured by the size and length of an official motorcade.
Obi added that the present Nigeria requires that those who serve must serve prudently, and with a sense of selfless sacrifice.
“Their behaviour, character, and attitude must be reflective of the solutions to the challenges facing Nigerians because our people are suffering in this country, and we must have that at the back of our minds.
“While I urge the people to patiently bear the present hardship for a better tomorrow, I call on the leaders to live more frugally and act more responsibly for a better society.
“We must begin to drastically cut the cost of governance and invest in different aspects of human development that will improve the lives of our people,” Obi said.