Obi highlights stark contrast between US, Nigeria’s leadership styles

In a recent reflection on his trip to the United States, former presidential candidate Peter Obi drew attention to the striking difference in leadership styles between American leaders and their Nigerian counterparts.

Obi’s observations centered around his encounter with Mayor Andre Dickens of Atlanta, whose humility and lack of ostentation stood in stark contrast to the often-excessive displays of power seen in Nigeria.

In a lost via his X account on Thursday, Obi recounted how Mayor Dickens traveled on the same flight as him without any special treatment or fanfare.

He wrote, “Atlanta City itself runs on an annual budget of about $3 billion (over ₦4.5 trillion). Its current Mayor, Mr Andre Dickens, was a businessman before going into politics. His key commitments include public safety, tackling crime, creating opportunities for young people, and ensuring a minimum of $15 an hour for council workers. He is estimated to be worth about $10 million.

“Yesterday, after meeting Mayor Andre Dickens, we both travelled on the same flight to Washington. At Atlanta airport, on the plane, and upon arrival at Ronald Regan National Airport, there was no special announcement of his presence, no aides carrying his bags, and no jumping the queue during boarding or disembarkation.

“In Nigeria, governors—most of whom oversee budgets smaller than Atlanta’s—and even local government chairmen, whose allocations are less than 1% of Atlanta’s, would have constituted a public nuisance with sirens, protocol officers, endless announcements, large entourages, and posters everywhere.”

“Our public conduct and behaviour must change,” Obi stressed.