Peter Obi Speaks on Controversial Footage of Him Serving Food at Charity Event

Former Anambra State Governor and Labour Party presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi, has addressed the recent buzz surrounding his participation in the Jubilee of Hope event, where he was seen serving food to underprivileged Nigerians — a gesture that has since gone viral and stirred public commentary.

The event, held over the weekend in Imo State, was not initially intended for media attention. Obi clarified that the service initiative was meant to be a private and symbolic act of humility, focused on uplifting the less privileged and promoting the values of empathy and service in leadership.

“The Jubilee of Hope was never about me,” Obi said in a statement on Sunday. “It was about reminding us that true leadership is rooted in service, and that those who have must never forget those who do not.”

Photos and videos of Obi personally serving food began circulating online shortly after the event. He noted that the media coverage was unsolicited and traced back to third parties outside of his team. “I did not invite the press, nor did I post anything online. Unfortunately, some individuals shared the footage, which led to the usual misinterpretations from paid agents and cynics,” he added.

Obi emphasized that his presence at the Jubilee of Hope was in line with his long-standing personal values and not political theater. “Humility is not a campaign strategy; it is a way of life,” he stated. “I live simply. I serve guests in my own home. I clean and sweep. I do not have a house help. This is who I am.”

The Jubilee of Hope, according to Obi, is designed to bring Nigeria’s elites down from their ‘high places’ to serve the less fortunate — not as a media spectacle but as a statement of the kind of equitable and empathetic society the country must strive toward.

He was joined by other prominent Nigerians at the event, including Cardinal John Onaiyekan, Senator Osita Izunaso, former Seplat Chairman Dr. A.B.C. Orjiako, and other distinguished citizens who also served in silence and sincerity.

Obi explained that he stayed longer at the event than planned because many of the attendees, especially the poor, requested that he personally serve them. “I could not ignore them. That was the only reason. Otherwise, there was nothing extraordinary about what I did. Service should not be special. It should be normal.”

Concluding his statement, Obi called for a cultural shift toward a more compassionate and responsible Nigeria. “We cannot talk about building a New Nigeria while ignoring the hungry, the poor, and the forgotten. Events like this should not remain symbolic. They must become a tradition,” he said. “Let’s build a country where dignity is a right — not a privilege. A New Nigeria is POssible.”