Award-winning Nigerian author, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, has shared her thoughts on why former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, seeks to lead Nigeria, saying his ambition is driven by love for the country—not desperation or personal gain.
“He doesn’t need to be president. He wants to be because he cares about Nigeria. And that’s a very important distinction,” she said.
“There are people who are desperate to become president, not because they have good intentions, but because of their egos.”
The celebrated writer said her support for Obi stems from what she described as his selfless leadership style and firm commitment to national development.
According to her, Obi’s character has remained consistent over the years.
“The person I knew 15 years ago is still the same in terms of his values. He is genuine, consistent, and curious—qualities I believe are essential in a leader,” she said.
Chimamanda also lauded Obi’s humility, pointing out that he views leadership as a responsibility, not a privilege.
“Peter Obi is not someone who expects gratitude for doing his job. He sees leadership as service, not as an opportunity to lord over people,” she added.
When asked about the possibility of Obi not securing the party’s presidential ticket in the future, Chimamanda avoided speculations.
“I don’t want to talk in specifics about how I’ll feel if he’s not the presidential candidate. I don’t want to think about that yet because we don’t know what will happen,” she said.
