Award-winning author Chimamanda Adichie has expressed her views on the Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, stating that he is neither motivated by ego nor by a desperate desire for power.
Gatekeepers News reports that during an interview on Channels Television’s Amazing Africans program, aired on Monday, she emphasised that Obi has demonstrated consistency and humility in the face of criticism and the results of the 2023 elections.
“He doesn’t need to be president. He wants to be because he cares about Nigeria, but he doesn’t need to be. And that is a very important distinction.
“There are people who are desperate to become president, not because they have any good intentions for the country, but because of their own personal egos,” she said.
Adichie said Obi’s values continue to resonate with many Nigerians and also stated that her love for Obi is rooted in her love for the country.
Reflecting on their long-standing relationship, she added, “He is one of the simplest men I have ever known. He is genuine and consistent. The person I knew 15 years ago is still the same in terms of his values.”
She praised Obi’s values of humility and accountability, saying he does not view public service as a favour to the people.
She said, “Peter Obi is not a person who expects you to thank him for doing his job as a leader, because to him, it’s his job. These are the reasons I support him.
“There’s a sense, I think, in Peter Obi that he’s accountable to the people. He doesn’t think that somehow, he will lord it over people.”
