For PETER OBI, Charity Should Begin at Home - FRED CHUKWULOBE

This is one piece I am sure will elicit anger and abuses from members of the Obidient Movement and supporters of the NDC presidential candidate in the 2027 presidential election, Mr. Peter Obi. But I will still go ahead and express my opinion.

I admire his courage and his daring philanthropy to far-flung places of the nation ravaged by rampant insecurity. He spends hundreds of millions of naira of his money taking care of the vulnerable and internally displaced persons. That is commendable.

Some say it is for political optics. Others say it is pretentious; that he does it to portray himself as caring and humble. Whatever! Let those who chastise us with scorpions do likewise. Maybe things will get better for those in dire need of such “pretentious philanthropy.”

However, I think the strategy should be refined.

I worry that he is taking a costly risk by venturing into places without knowing what danger or enmity lurks along the way. It is one thing to show solidarity with victims of insecurity; it is another to put oneself unnecessarily in harm’s way.

But beyond that, I think Peter Obi needs to pay some attention to his home state of Anambra. No doubt, he has done quite well for the people, but the state as is currently run is of concern to most people and needs the attention of everybody who genuinely cares about its future.

It is public knowledge that Governor Charles Chukwuma Soludo does not like him and does not support his ambition. Soludo, I dare say, will work with the progressives to make sure Obi loses Anambra to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election. He is already planning so with his so-called “community administration”, a fourth tier of government that is clearly unconstitutional.

For me, Peter Obi should pay more political attention to Anambra. Not necessarily because his victory will come from here but because the state also needs his intervention and political influence.

I am particularly surprised that he has not visited the family of the late Aiza Nwosu of Awka, who was recently gruesomely gunned down by yet-to-be-identified assailants. Aiza played a role in promoting Obi’s candidacy and his government when he was governor. Obi should visit the grieving family, offer comfort and use his voice to challenge the government to rein in the criminal gangs terrorising the people.

I also read that he has yet to visit some parts of the state affected by insecurity. If that is true, he needs to do so.

Why?

Because charity begins at home.

This is not a justification for political opponents who attack or prevent him from moving across the country. Freedom of movement is a constitutional guarantee, and political disagreement is no licence to harass or obstruct anyone.

Neither am I saying Peter Obi should stop his interventions outside Anambra. Far from it. Nigeria belongs to all of us, and the suffering of Nigerians anywhere should concern anyone who genuinely wants to lead the country.

But there is something about home. Your own people should feel your presence at moments of grief and despair. A bereaved family should be able to look forward to a visit from someone they consider their own.

Peter Obi is no longer just a former governor of Anambra State. He is now a national political figure and the NDC presidential candidate for the 2027 election. That comes with a much bigger responsibility.

He cannot be everywhere, I agree. But he can do more in Anambra at this point in time.

I also do not like his speech at the Oyo State Governors’ event. He described Biodun Makinde of another party - an opponent in the coming presidential election in effusive style. In my view, he demarketed himself. At a time when Nigerians are desperately looking for a way out of the mess we have found ourselves in, his message should be bigger than the politics of who is with him and who is against him. He should move away from effusive praise of an opponent just to spite his main opponent, President Tinubu.

His message should be to support every genuine Nigerian ready to help steer the ship of this nation away from the precipice where it is headed.

Nigeria needs all hands on deck.

Peter Obi has demonstrated that he can command a national following beyond Anambra. That is an asset, but it also places a responsibility on him to rise above narrow political considerations.

There is nothing wrong with travelling to far-flung parts of Nigeria to offer assistance to victims of insecurity. In fact, I commend him for it. But when people in your own state are being killed and communities are living in fear, your voice and presence should also be heard and felt there. It does not matter how the governor feels about it. He should be reminded constantly that the people expect more from him.

Peter Obi wants to be President of Nigeria. That is his constitutional right, and Nigerians will ultimately decide whether they want him or somebody else in 2027.

But before he becomes President of Nigeria, he remains Peter Obi of Anambra.

And sometimes, charity should begin at home.