In a heartwarming moment that has captivated social media, former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, paused his trip to lend a helping hand to an elderly woman whose goods had spilled as she struggled to board a bus.
The incident, which was shared on X (formerly Twitter) by user @TheSerahIbrahim, unfolded while Obi was en route to the burial ceremony of late Nollywood actress, Mrs. Nkechi Winifred Nweje. Along the way, he noticed the elderly woman across the road, visibly struggling with a heavy bucket of wares as she attempted to climb into a bus.
According to eyewitness accounts, the woman lost her balance and fell, causing her bucket to topple and the contents to scatter across the road. Upon witnessing the incident, Obi immediately instructed his driver to stop and reverse the vehicle. He stepped out, approached the distressed woman, and ensured she was not injured.
Touched by the former governor's compassion, the woman reportedly smiled through her distress and asked for a hug a request Obi graciously granted. Bystanders were already trying to help recover the scattered items when Obi joined in.
The woman explained that she was on her way to the market and that selling the items was her only source of income. She had spent ₦8,000 on the goods, hoping to earn a modest profit of ₦2,000 by selling them for ₦10,000. With part of the produce damaged, she feared she wouldn’t even recover her capital.
Moved by her plight, Obi gave her a generous sum of money, covering her costs and likely much more. Overwhelmed with emotion, the woman embraced him again and even attempted to gift him some of the salvaged produce in gratitude.
The story quickly gained traction online, with many Nigerians praising Obi’s humility and empathy rare qualities, they said, in the Nigerian political landscape. The moment sparked widespread reflection on the widening gap between the nation’s struggling citizens and its political elite.
In her viral post, Serah Ibrahim used the moment to spotlight the deep economic hardship faced by many Nigerians. She decried what she called the “cruelty masked as governance” and emphasized the urgent need for leadership rooted in compassion and human dignity.
“The struggle is real,” she wrote. “This is why we fight for a better Nigeria. A new Nigeria is POssible.”
The comment section was soon flooded with emotional reactions:
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@SimoncoleB: “A rare kind of man to find in Nigerian politics. For now, I doubt any politician in Nigeria has his qualities.”
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@RITAENG1234: “God please, give us H.E. Peter Obi as President soon. In Jesus’ Mighty Name I pray, Amen.”
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@Akunn_a: “This is why it’s good that he travels with people, otherwise we won’t get to know about these random acts of kindness and compassion.”
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@oteessolutions1: “But we have a Senator in the Senate today that once told a widow, ‘Go and die,’ when he was a governor.”
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@segun_olomola: “A true leader is a true leader, no two ways about it. Compassion is a virtue.”
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@Airdropglobal5: “You can imagine what Nigeria would be like under such an empathetic leader! A PO presidency is possible!”
Obi, widely admired for his simplicity and people-first approach, continues to earn the admiration of many Nigerians who see him as a refreshing contrast to the opulence and aloofness often associated with the country’s ruling class.
For many, this spontaneous act of kindness was more than just a moment — it was a glimpse into the kind of leadership they believe Nigeria urgently needs.
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