Award-winning Nigerian writer Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie says her support for Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, stems from his integrity, humility, and genuine concern for Nigeria — not desperation for power.
Speaking in an interview on Channels Television, Adichie contrasted Obi with many other politicians she described as desperate for the presidency.
“He doesn’t need to be president; he wants to be because he cares about Nigeria, but he doesn’t need to be. That is a very important distinction,” she said. “There are people who are desperate to become president, not because they have any good intentions for the country, but because of their egos.”
Adichie made it clear her backing of the former Anambra State governor isn’t out of personal loyalty but conviction that he represents a different kind of politics.
“My support is rooted in my love for this country,” she said, adding that she believes Nigeria can work with the right kind of leadership.
She described Obi as a leader who sees governance as duty, not an avenue for praise or power.
“Peter Obi is not a person who expects you to thank him for doing his job as a leader, because to him it’s his job,” Adichie said. “There’s a sense, I think, in Peter Obi that he’s accountable to the people. He doesn’t think that somehow, he will lord it over people.”
She also praised his consistency, describing him as someone whose values haven’t shifted with time or politics.
“The person I knew 15 years ago is still the same in terms of his values,” she said. “He is genuine, consistent, and curious — qualities that I believe are essential in a leader.”
When asked how she would feel if Obi doesn’t contest in 2027, Adichie chose not to respond.
Adichie’s support for Obi during the 2023 election was visible across multiple platforms — from heartfelt social media posts to a birthday message where she referred to him as “my big bro.”
Following the election, which saw Bola Tinubu declared winner, Adichie published a scathing open letter to U.S. President Joe Biden, questioning the legitimacy of the results and pointing out irregularities she said were ignored by the electoral commission.
She also showed up at the presidential election tribunal in Abuja to show her support for Obi as he challenged the outcome in court.
For Adichie, Obi stands out not because he’s perfect, but because, unlike others, he doesn’t wear desperation like a badge — and that, she says, makes all the difference.
