Kenya’s Experience: Nigerian Leaders Must Abandon Ostentatious Lifestyles – Obi Says

…Says, they need to take a cue from Kenyan’s experience

Former governor of Anambra State and Presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), in the 2023 election, Mr Peter Obi has declared that a true Nigeria is possible if political leaders make the desired, necessary sacrifices, and needed changes.

Obi specifically said that Nigerian leaders, must abandon habits and ostentatious life style that are detrimental, stop the feasting, and start making desired sacrifices for the greater good of the suffering masses in the country.
He stressed that true change and progress require leaders who are sincere, willing to listen, act responsibly, and prioritize the welfare of the people over personal or political interests, saying; “If we make the necessary changes and make the needed sacrifices, a new Nigeria is possible!”

Obi therefore challenged political office holders and leaders to wake up and learn from the recent experience of Kenyan and demonstrate true leadership by listening to the cries of the citizens.
He spoke against the backdrop of the protesters that stormed the Kenyan parliament over a new bill to increase taxes, stressing that Kenya’s President William Ruto acted fast under 24 hours by rolling back the controversial Financial Bill that he had earlier championed in the face of public opposition.

Obi, who stated these on his X-handle on Sunday counselled Nigerian political leaders to draw a strong lesson from the Kenyan experience, adding that when the Kenyan public realized that their government was not making sufficient sacrifices and prioritizing resources effectively, they spoke out, demanded change, expressed their dissatisfaction, and protested.
In his words; “In response, the President demonstrated true leadership by listening to the people’s demands and acting accordingly and recognizing that government should be driven by the needs of the citizens, not by our own consumption agenda”.
The LP Presidential candidate noted that the Kenyan government took several measures to reduce unnecessary expenditures and demonstrated fiscal responsibility, including cancelling budgets for the First Lady and Second Lady’s offices as well as dissolving 47 state agencies.
Obi further said that President Ruto also suspended nonessential travel for government workers, froze the purchase of new cars for officials, and reduced the number of advisers by 50 percent.
He said; “Another notable instance was when the President was accused of chartering a plane to America. Instead of dismissing the concerns, he responded transparently and addressed the issue, stressing that President Ruto’s acknowledgment of the people’s demands exemplified responsive governance.
According to Obi; “In contrast, we the Nigerian leaders, often arrogantly do the opposite to genuine grievances of our suffering citizens.

“Instead of addressing legitimate concerns, and being accountable to the people, we resort to using public funds to pay media thugs to insult and abuse those who speak truth to power,” he said.