Peter Obi criticised Nigerian leaders’ ostentatious lifestyles, contrasting them with the modest, service-focused leadership of Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens.
The USA Trip and Reflections on Leadership
— Peter Obi (@PeterObi) September 25, 2025
I left Lagos yesterday, the 24th of Sept, for a 3-day trip to the USA, covering Washington and Chicago, with a stopover in Atlanta. I travelled with Delta Airlines, the first airline in the United States, which has been in existence… pic.twitter.com/16Y3dCgYXa
Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has criticised Nigerian political leaders for excessive public displays of power, contrasting their style with the modesty of U.S. officials.
In a post on X on Thursday, Obi shared observations from his three-day trip to Atlanta, Washington, and Chicago. He noted that Atlanta, with a city budget of about $3 billion—larger than Nigeria’s national budget—operates under Mayor Andre Dickens, who lives and works with striking simplicity.
Obi revealed that he flew alongside Mayor Dickens from Atlanta to Washington and witnessed the mayor boarding and disembarking “like every other passenger, without aides carrying bags, announcements, sirens, or entourages.”
Drawing comparisons, Obi said Nigerian governors, most of whom oversee budgets smaller than Atlanta’s, and even local government chairmen, whose allocations are less than 1% of Atlanta’s, often create public disturbances with convoys, sirens, posters, and large entourages.
He urged Nigerian leaders to change their conduct and embrace service-oriented governance. Highlighting Dickens’ priorities—crime reduction, youth empowerment, and ensuring a $15 minimum wage for city workers—Obi argued that true leadership lies in humility, efficiency, and accountability.