Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) for the 2027 election, has declared that he is ready to sacrifice his life for Nigeria if necessary.
The former Anambra State governor made the remarks during an interview on Black Box with Rufai Oseni, aired on Nevon HQ and later shared widely on social media.
Speaking on the country’s worsening insecurity, including the abduction of schoolchildren, attacks on communities, and the killing of security personnel, Obi stressed that leadership requires courage and personal sacrifice.
According to him:
“If you are ready to lead, you must be ready to die. If you’re not ready to die, go home.”
When asked directly whether he was personally ready to die for Nigeria, Obi responded:
“Yes. Tomorrow, if I’m outside this country and there’s war, I’ll come back. I’m a Nigerian. I’ve never had any reason to have any country’s passport. I lived abroad for years. People collected different passports. I’ve never taken it. God created me a Nigerian. And I’m ready to die here.”
He added:
“It’s one country. We cannot have non-state actors take over the state. It’s not possible.”
Obi also praised the historical role of the Nigerian military in peacekeeping operations across the world.
“We used to have military that kept peace all over the world. Our military were able to help to keep peace from Europe to Sudan, to Liberia, to Kuwait and everywhere.”
The comments came as discussions over insecurity continue to dominate political debates ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
Nigerians React
Obi’s statement generated mixed reactions on social media.
Adebayo Johnson wrote:
“Leadership requires sacrifice. Whether you support Obi or not, this is the kind of commitment Nigerians want to hear from politicians.”
Abdul-Aziz Na’ibi Abubakar disagreed, saying:
“Words are easy. Nigerians want practical solutions to insecurity, not emotional declarations.”
Chukwuemeka Okafor commented:
“At least he is saying he won’t run away from the country in difficult times. That is what many citizens expect from leaders.”
Rheedwhan wrote:
“Being ready to die is one thing. Having a workable plan to stop insecurity is another. Nigerians want to hear the strategy.”
Fatima Usman said:
“The statement shows patriotism, but the real challenge is how to restore security and protect lives.”
The remarks have continued to spark debate, with supporters describing them as a demonstration of commitment to national service, while critics argue that voters should focus more on concrete policy proposals than symbolic statements.
