Obi to Nigerians: Elect Leaders Based on Competence, Not Tribe or Religion

Former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi has urged Nigerians to shun tribal and religious sentiments in leadership selection and instead prioritize competence, capacity, character, and compassion.

In a statement posted on Monday via X (formerly Twitter), titled “What Cannot Be Hidden in Leadership,” Obi stated that the quality of leadership directly affects national progress or failure, and that the results are always evident.

“There are critical areas of leadership that must exist for a nation to move forward. These are summed up in four Cs: Competence, Capacity, Character, and Compassion. Where these are absent, there is no magic that can work,” Obi said.

He criticized the persistent ethnic and religious bias in Nigeria’s political choices, noting that such decisions have “painfully damaged” the country.

“We must move away from voting based on tribe and religion… because we’ve all seen what leadership without these values has done to Nigeria,” he stressed.

Obi emphasized that competence enables leaders to grasp and tackle national issues, capacity reflects the strength to deliver, character fosters integrity and trust, and compassion ensures that leaders care for citizens beyond numbers.

He also condemned the federal government’s silence and inaction in the face of recent national tragedies. Citing the floods in Niger State that reportedly killed nearly 200 people and the Benue massacres where over 200 were murdered, Obi said the lack of presidential visits reflects “a failure of empathy.”

“Leadership without compassion has become normal in Nigeria. Human suffering is now ignored, and lives are treated as mere statistics,” he lamented.

He compared the federal government’s handling of tragedies to international responses, such as India and South Africa, where presidents promptly visited affected communities.

Obi concluded by stating,

“Nigeria does not just need another president. Nigeria needs a true leader—one with competence, capacity, character, and compassion. Until we choose based on these values, the cycle of pain will continue.”