The Labour Party presidential candidate in the 2023 elections, Peter Obi, has responded to social media reactions surrounding his participation in a recent charity event in Imo State, where he was seen serving food to underprivileged citizens.

The event, tagged “Jubilee of Hope,” held last week, has stirred conversations online after photos and videos of Obi personally serving meals to attendees surfaced.

Critics suggested the act was politically motivated, while others hailed it as a gesture of humility.

However, Obi, in a statement on Sunday via his X handle, dismissed the controversy, saying the event was not about publicity but about rekindling the spirit of compassion and service in leadership.

“Let me be clear, that event was not about me. It was called the Jubilee of Hope, and its purpose is straightforward — to remind us all that true leadership is service, and that those who have must never forget those who do not,” Obi said.

He noted that the event was private, and he had not invited the press or publicised his attendance, but that some third parties independently shared photos and videos online.

“As expected, the usual naysayers and paid agents went to work trying to twist something sincere into something political,” he said.

Obi added that the Jubilee of Hope was meant to symbolise a society rooted in “empathy, equity, and responsibility,” where elites momentarily step down from privilege to serve the less fortunate.

“I was not the only one who served that day. Many well-meaning and distinguished Nigerians also participated, including Cardinal John Onaiyekan, Senator Osita Izunaso, and former Seplat Chairman Dr. A.B.C. Orjiako,” he stated.

Reiterating his lifestyle and values, Obi said he had always led with simplicity and humility, both in public and private life.

“I do not have a house help. When guests visit my home, I serve them myself. I live simply, I sweep, I clean, because for me, humility is not a campaign strategy; it is a way of life,” he declared.

The former governor of Anambra State further explained that he remained longer at the event simply because several attendees asked him to serve them directly.

“I could not ignore them. That was the only reason. Otherwise, there was nothing special about what I did. Service is not special — it is expected,” Obi noted.

Calling for a cultural shift among Nigerian elites, Obi urged public office holders, business leaders, and ordinary citizens to adopt a lifestyle of service and compassion.

“We cannot speak of building a New Nigeria while ignoring the hungry, the forgotten, and the poor. Events like this must not remain symbolic, they must become cultural.

“Let us work together to build a country where hope is not seasonal, and dignity is not a privilege, but a right. A new Nigeria is possible,” he added. (Sunday PUNCH, excluding headline)