Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 election, says he leads a modest lifestyle without domestic staff and personally serves guests in his home.
Obi made the remarks on Sunday in a post via his X handle, while reacting to the viral photos and videos of him serving food at a recent charity event in Imo state.
“I am genuinely surprised that this simple act has become a topic of discussion. As governor, I always served others whenever we had events,” he wrote.
“Even now, in private life, I do not have a house help. When guests visit my home, I serve them myself. I live simply, I sweep, I clean, because for me, humility is not a campaign strategy; it is a way of life.
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”At the Jubilee of Hope, I stayed longer because many of the poor attendees requested that I serve them personally. I could not ignore them. That was the only reason.”
The former Anambra governor added that efforts to build a better Nigeria must begin with compassion and tangible acts of service to the poor.
“There was nothing special about what I did. Service is not special, it is expected. We cannot speak of building a New Nigeria while ignoring the hungry, the forgotten, and the poor,” he said.
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“Events like this must not remain symbolic, they must become cultural. Public office holders, business leaders, and everyday citizens must unite in lifting others.”
Obi’s “modest lifestyle” has often been a subject of discussion over the years. In 2017, he revealed that he owned only one wristwatch, which he had used for 17 years, and just two pairs of black shoes.
Obi also said he frequently flew economy class and embraced cost-saving measures while in office to keep government expenses low.
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