Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s presidential candidate in the 2023 general election, has explained the reason behind a viral video showing him serving food at an event in Imo State, describing it as an expression of leadership through service rather than a publicity stunt.
In a statement on Sunday via his official X handle, Obi said his presence at the Jubilee of Hope in Imo State was a private gathering focused on promoting empathy and responsibility among society’s privileged, not a political spectacle.
He clarified that he neither invited the media nor posted about the event himself, but third parties shared the images and footage, leading to widespread attention and mixed reactions online.
Obi stated that the event was designed to challenge societal norms by encouraging wealthy and influential Nigerians to step away from their elevated positions, even briefly, to serve those less privileged.
He revealed that many other distinguished individuals, including religious and corporate leaders, quietly participated in serving food that day.
“I am genuinely surprised that this simple act has become a topic of discussion,” Obi said. “As Governor, I always served others at events. Even now, in my private life, I do not have domestic staff. I serve my guests myself, sweep, and clean. Humility is not a campaign strategy for me; it is my way of life.”
Obi explained that he stayed longer at the event because many attendees personally requested that he serve them, stressing that such gestures should not be viewed as extraordinary but as the standard for true leadership.
“My weekend activity of serving food at a special event has generated interest because, unfortunately, leaders in our society have removed service from leadership,” he wrote. “The Jubilee of Hope is designed for the rich to come down from their high places and serve the poor, not for show, but as a symbol of the society we must build – one anchored on empathy, equity, and responsibility.”
He further urged public office holders, business leaders, and citizens to make service to others a cultural norm in building a fairer and more compassionate Nigeria.
“We cannot speak of building a New Nigeria while ignoring the hungry and the poor,” he concluded. “Events like this must not remain symbolic; they must become cultural. Let us build a country where hope is not seasonal, and dignity is not a privilege but a right.”
