I am not one of those who speak good or ill of people based on their relationship with me or because they are my tribesmen. I judge people based on what they do and how negatively I think such behaviours impact on me and on those who look up to such people for mentorship/leadership.
In a country where the so-called big people like to be hero-worshiped; where public officers walk around with a retinue of aides, some of whom have no role other than to carry their handbags and tie/untie their shoes’ laces; hold their umbrellas; be ready to use their palms to catch their spit if the cough, Peter Obi is a humble fellow.
He does none of those things. He doesn’t possess those arrogant traits. He’s simple. He’s humble. He mixes freely. He is approachable. But he has his faults. After all, he’s human. I may not have agreed with some of the things he has done and said. But, that doesn’t make him ‘an arrogant brat.’
Now, let’s talk about the trending video where he was seen at a certain event serving food to guests. When I initially saw the video, I was angry. I thought he was invited to an event and instead of being served, he decided to serve people to ‘prove a point.’ My initial reaction was ‘for what’? What point? I thought it was demeaning and unnecessary.
Later, I watched the video critically. Before I picked up my phone to write, my friend and classmate, Oseloka Zikora, called me because he felt I was going to weigh in on the matter. He asked me to watch the videos and take a closer look at the context. I did. Behold, it was a commendable thing that Peter Obi did. He is humility personified and he let it show.
This is what happened.
There was an event called “Jubilee of Hope” where roles were reversed and the rich were called upon to serve.
Peter Obi did the serving at the behest of the Master of Ceremonies (MC), who called on the distinguished guests to observe the protocol of the ceremony.
Senator Chijinkem Ugwuanyi, a serving Senator, was at the event and equally helped in serving the less privileged present.
The United States of America observes a similar ceremony to honour the legacy of the civil rights activist, late Martin Luther King Jnr. Barack Obama, while serving as the President of the US, did such service with his family on the 25th anniversary. Peter Obi had an opportunity to be counted and he took it.
I do not see what the brouhaha is all about with Peter Obi doing such a humble and commendable thing. Is it because it is Peter Obi and he wants to be president of Nigeria?? Must everything he does be subjected to insidious attacks just to pull him down?
Those who think that the best way to cut him down is to engage in such character assassination and vicious attacks are not doing themselves any good.
Take it or leave it, Peter Obi is a humble, simple, and likeable person. He has his faults like we all do. But he’s not arrogant and could be relied upon when examples of humility are needed to be made.
So, let all men and women of goodwill applaud him for living and leading humbly by example. We need such humility in a country of deeply self- conceited and braggadocious people.
(c) Fred Chukwuelobe
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