Presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has urged candidates of the NDC in Lagos State to see public office as a responsibility to serve the people rather than an opportunity to enjoy privileges.
Obi gave the charge on Tuesday during a dinner organised for Lagos NDC candidates by the Lagos Obidient Movement, where he spoke on the need for responsible and people-centred leadership.
He said political positions should not be viewed as platforms for personal gains but as opportunities to improve the lives of citizens and contribute to building a better Nigeria.
“I used the occasion to remind the candidates that seeking public office is not about titles, positions, or the privileges associated with them. It is about accepting the responsibility to serve and committing ourselves to building a better Nigeria,” Obi said.
The former Anambra State governor noted that the current challenges facing many Nigerians require leaders who understand the weight of public responsibility and remain committed to addressing the concerns of ordinary citizens.
According to him, leaders must be accessible, accountable and actively involved in the lives of the people they represent.
“Having witnessed the suffering and hardship that our people continue to endure, we must remain conscious of the tremendous responsibility placed in our hands. Nigerians deserve leaders who are accessible, actively engaged, accountable, and willing to lead by example,” he added.
Obi urged the candidates to promote a new standard of politics built around competence, integrity and genuine concern for the welfare of the people.
He said leadership must be guided by values that place the common good above personal interests.
“Our politics must establish a standard for others to follow. It must therefore be founded on competence, character, capacity, compassion, and a genuine commitment to the common good,” Obi stated.
The former presidential candidate has continued to advocate for a political system focused on accountability, effective governance and improved living conditions for Nigerians.
He maintained that achieving a better Nigeria is possible when leaders remain committed to service and lead by example.
“A better Nigeria is within reach, but achieving it requires leaders who are prepared to lead by example and remain accessible. A New Nigeria is POssible,” Obi said.
The meeting with Lagos NDC candidates comes as political parties and their candidates prepare for future electoral contests, with increasing calls for issue-based campaigns and leadership focused on addressing citizens’ economic and social challenges.
