You Constitute Nuisance – Peter Obi Slams Nigerian Leaders Over Display Of Power, Shares Experience

Posted by Thandiubani on Thu 25th Sep, 2025 - tori.ng

He argued that Nigerian leaders must change their public conduct and focus more on service delivery.

Peter Obi, 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate has lambasted Nigerian leaders for their flashy and wasteful displays of power and resources.

Speaking in a post via X on Thursday, he shared an encounter during his ongoing three-day trip to the United States (US), covering Atlanta, Washington, and Chicago.

The former Governor of Anambra State drew a sharp comparison between political leadership in Nigeria and the United States.

According to him, Atlanta, with an annual city budget of approximately $3 billion, generates more revenue than Nigeria’s national budget; yet, its mayor, Andre Dickens, maintains a modest public profile.

Peter Obi said he travelled with Dickens on the same flight from Atlanta to Washington without any special treatment for the mayor.

He stated that Dickens boarded and disembarked like every other passenger, without aides carrying bags, announcements, sirens, or entourages, unlike in Nigeria, where governors and other political leaders constitute a nuisance.

The statement read, “Atlanta City itself runs on an annual budget of about $3 billion (over ₦4.5 trillion). Its current Mayor, Mr Andre Dickens, was a businessman before going into politics. His key commitments include public safety, tackling crime, creating opportunities for young people, and ensuring a minimum of $15 an hour for council workers. He is estimated to be worth about $10 million.

“Yesterday, after meeting Mayor Andre Dickens, we both travelled on the same flight to Washington. At Atlanta airport, on the plane, and upon arrival at Ronald Regan National Airport, there was no special announcement of his presence, no aides carrying his bags, and no jumping the queue during boarding or disembarkation.

“In Nigeria, governors most of whom oversee budgets smaller than Atlanta’s and even local government chairmen, whose allocations are less than 1% of Atlanta’s, would have constituted a public nuisance with sirens, protocol officers, endless announcements, large entourages, and posters everywhere.

“Our public conduct and behaviour must change.”