Peter Obi, the Presidential standard bearer of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), is a rare breed. Sometimes, you just wonder: Is he truly a Nigerian? How can a man of means, influence and affluence be so humble, ordinary, unassuming and ruthlessly obsequious? This is not about his politics. Or his ambition to lead Nigeria. This is about the values and virtues of a Nigerian politician who is not sucked into the splash and dash mode of hubris and swashbuckling aristocracy often associated with Nigerian politicians.
As an undergraduate at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, he was already a landlord. One of his tenants was a bank. He was famous on campus as a trader. He was a car owner. Was always travelling overseas to enlarge his business. He was obviously not poor, nor was poverty ever associated with him. He publicly acknowledges that he comes from a family of business people. When he was governor of Anambra State (popular opinion is that Obi remains the best governor Anambra has ever had) from 2006 to 2014, a lot happened to him. That was the moment the Obi many saw afar off was brought close to the people. He was not the typical career politician when he contested and won the governorship election. He came from the private sector. Chairman of a bank and sitting on the Board of a couple of companies.
As governor, he was intentional. He knew the challenges of his state. Anambra is famed for the entrepreneurial and productive spirit of its indigenes. Besides trade and commerce, Anambra is a production hub. Nnewi, for instance, was producing, and still produces, automobile spare parts and allied technical accessories both for export and domestic consumption.
But the same Anambra was poor in education, healthcare delivery and infrastructure. Obi re-wrote the script, changed the narrative with clear intentional leadership praxis. He brought pragmatism to governance. Handing back schools to missions and funding them, including structural and human capital re-modelling of the schools, turned the switch. School ergonomics became attractive. Teachers and students got a booster shot to do more and give more. He automated schools. Secondary schools moved from analogue outposts to digital mills. The result showed. Anambra became the topmost in WASSCE and NECO, the two external exams for secondary schools in Nigeria. He delivered healthcare like a man possessed. He was bullish with infrastructure. Peter Obi is the first governor in Nigeria to establish a sub-national sovereign wealth fund (SWF). He saved millions of dollars for the state when his colleagues accumulated debts for their states. Nigeria had no SWF until 2011. SWF in simple terms means savings for future use, for uncertainties, etc. Nigeria’s SWF now stands at about $3.42 billion managed by the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA). That’s for a country with a population (estimate) of 230 million. Norway has the global highest individual SWF at $2.1 trillion, China has the highest cumulative SWF of $3.5 trillion, United Arab Emirates $2.7 trillion, Saudi Arabia $1.2 trillion.
In Africa, Libya has the highest SWF of $68.4 billion, followed by Ethiopia with $46.3 billion. Compared with that of Nigeria. Nigerian leaders were sharing and squandering what could have been saved. They stole excess crude money. Stole every extra cash and lined their pockets. Not so, this Peter Obi. He saved for his state; for those coming after him. Other governors did not save. They left debts, money borrowed for projects but shared in a fetish feast of venality.
But I digress. This piece is not about what Peter Obi did in office as governor. It is about his character, values and lifestyle. Obi typifies the Asian values of pristine morality, self-contentment, fiscal prudence, discipline, allergy to greed and graft. Asians believe in the ethical value that hard work pays; that you don’t develop by stealing; that you cannot have a tainted character and soiled pedigree and be allowed to serve in the public space. They abhor stealing, drug abuse, corruption of any kind and anything that is odious to their family names. They live a simple life that promotes frugality and humility. They believe in quality education and healthcare. They intentionally invest in them as individuals and as a nation. They build their wealth brick by brick. They do not believe in instant reward but delayed gratification. Some Asian politicians have resigned on the basis of mere allegations.
This is where Peter Obi lives. A life of simplicity, humility, generosity and moral piety. A good eight years as governor, no EFCC or ICPC charges. Yet, he’s one of the most investigated public officials. Peter Obi, the trader, is a rich man. But his wealth is not ill-gotten. Not from inflated government contracts, narcotics deals, kickbacks, and raw plunder of the public till. He has been consistent as one who plugged into marketing, a critical component of the production value chain.
These are the character traits that endear Obi to the people. A trait that emphasises business before pleasure; that is bullish with development, a trait that promotes shared wealth above individual wealth. Everything about Obi is simple. No ostentation. No vain show of biggity. No primitive acquisition of wealth. Obi is a giver, a generous one at that. Only, he gives to empower. He will not give you to throw lavish parties or to indulge in revelling, but he will give you to start a business, acquire a skill, ensure your wellbeing or to further your education. A truly generous strategic giver. A donor for good causes not for high jinks and frivolities.
Do you not notice that among the top contenders for Nigeria’s Presidency, Obi is the only one emphasising his determination to fight corruption? Any surprises? He stands on high moral ground that elevates him enough to degrade corruption which is the chief problem of Nigeria.
But politics aside, I love Peter Obi’s values. I admire his moral equity; his ability to see public money and use it for public good; not steal it. Every politician has a past and a present. Obi’s past is a hallway of integrity. His present is a model of incorrigibility. This is why people love him. Exactly why the corrupt and the crooked dislike him. Above all, why some politicians fear him and have made Peter Obi the only hymn they sing. Obi is on their lips and a dread in their hearts. They fear Obi will have a chokehold on corruption. That will be bad business for the tribe of corrupt politicians.
