Former Anambra State Governor and Labour Party presidential candidate in the 2023 general election, Peter Obi, has recounted a personal experience from his time in office to highlight what he described as his practical approach to leadership and problem-solving.
Speaking on Monday during an interactive Space chat on 𝕏 (formerly Twitter) with his supporters, popularly known as the Obidients, Obi narrated an incident that occurred several years ago while he was travelling on a British Airways flight as a serving governor.
According to Obi, the episode happened when a female passenger attempted to use the aircraft’s restroom but walked away after discovering it was in a filthy condition. Rather than complain or ignore the situation, Obi said he decided to take matters into his own hands.
He explained that he personally cleaned the toilet, reasoning that he or another passenger might need to use it later. Obi said his action eventually caught the attention of a cabin crew member, who was reportedly shocked to discover that the restroom had been cleaned without any complaint being lodged.
Obi recalled that the staff member later shared her disbelief with other officials, including a minister, expressing surprise that a sitting governor would take such responsibility instead of leaving the task to airline staff.
Explaining his motivation, Obi said his decision was guided by simple logic and a sense of responsibility. He noted that leadership, in his view, is not about status or entitlement but about doing what is necessary to fix problems when they arise.
Using the story as a broader lesson, the former governor urged Nigerians to stop overlooking issues that can be corrected and to abandon what he described as a culture of “fake living.” He stressed the importance of personal responsibility, adding that he does not keep domestic staff in his own home and prefers a modest, hands-on lifestyle.
Obi encouraged citizens to take ownership of their environment and society, arguing that meaningful change begins when individuals are willing to act rather than wait for others.
As of the time of reporting, British Airways had not issued any official response regarding Obi’s account of the incident.
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