Labour Party’s 2023 Presidential candidate and former Anambra State Governor, Peter Obi, has clarified that his recent act of serving food at a charity event was not a political campaign tactic, but a reflection of his lifelong values of humility and service.
Taking to his verified X (formerly Twitter) handle on Sunday, Obi addressed the reactions sparked by viral photos and videos of him distributing meals during the Jubilee of Hope event held over the weekend in Imo State.
“My weekend activity of serving food at a special event has been generating interest, as expectedly, because leaders in our society have removed the service component in leadership. It’s sounding strange that I was seen serving food to people,” Obi said.
He explained that the event was a private outreach designed to foster compassion and bridge the divide between the privileged and the poor, not a media stunt.
“It was not about me. It was called the Jubilee of Hope, and its purpose is straightforward — to remind us all that true leadership is service, and that those who have must never forget those who do not,” he stated.
Obi expressed concern that images from the event, which he did not personally release, were shared online by outsiders and then politicized by critics.
“As expected, the usual naysayers and paid agents went to work trying to twist something sincere into something political,” he noted.
He said that the outreach was joined by other dignitaries including Cardinal John Onaiyekan, Senator Osita Izunaso, and Dr. A.B.C. Orjiako, who all served meals to guests in what he described as a “quiet and sincere” show of empathy.
“It wasn’t about the cameras; it was about conscience,” Obi noted.
Highlighting his personal values, Obi made it clear that humility is not something he performs for public appeal—it defines his daily life.
“I live simply, I sweep, I clean, because for me, humility is not a campaign strategy; it is a way of life,” he affirmed.
He also revealed that his extended stay at the event was because many poor attendees specifically asked him to serve them—something he felt compelled to honor.
Obi concluded with a call to action for both political leaders and business elites to adopt a genuine culture of service and compassion.
“We cannot speak of building a New Nigeria while ignoring the hungry, the forgotten, and the poor… Let us work together to build a country where hope is not seasonal, and dignity is not a privilege, but a right.”
