A leader’s job is not to complain – Peter Obi

Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s presidential candidate in Nigeria’s 2023 election, has called on elected officials to prioritize delivering results over shifting blame or making excuses.

He stressed that true leadership demands accountability and effectiveness, not complaints about past administrations’ failures. Obi shared these thoughts during his appearance on The Honest Bunch Podcast, released on Monday.

He criticized the common practice of some leaders who deflect responsibility by blaming predecessors, saying that this mindset hinders genuine leadership and progress.

The former Anambra State governor also discussed the proper use of borrowed funds, highlighting that loans should contribute tangible value to the country.

Citing Singapore as an example, Obi noted that despite its significant debt—exceeding 120% of its GDP—Singapore mandates that borrowed money be invested in projects with long-term benefits.

He pointed out that Singapore is currently constructing an underwater port set to operate by 2050, a project driven by careful planning and future-oriented thinking.

Obi said, “Singapore is owing almost a hundred and twenty something of their GDP to debts, but Singapore has a law; all borrowed money must be used for investments.

“For example, Singapore today is building a port that might start functioning in 2050 because they found out they are very small, they have the land and one of the busiest ports, but in order to expand that port, they are now building the first port under the sea which is going to cost billions.

“These are the things people are doing but in our case, borrowing money and telling stories, when being asked the next thing they are going on holidays or start giving excuses, oh everybody before me spoiled everything.

“We didn’t hire you to remind us of our pasts. If it was good, we wouldn’t hire you. We hired you to move us forward not to remind us of where we are coming from because we know it’s not good that is why we hired you.

“You came for the interview, it’s not as if we appointed you. You said I will do this.

“The job of a leader is not complain or to remind people of how difficult things are but to find solution to it.”