Mahdi Shehu, a prominent political commentator, has taken to Twitter to praise Peter Obi, the 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party, for his philanthropic efforts in providing clean drinking water to communities in the North of Nigeria.
Shehu’s commendation comes as a response to criticisms from members of the All-Progressives Congress (APC) regarding the quality of boreholes donated by Obi.
Shehu dismissed the complaints as unfounded and hypocritical, accusing the critics of being “empty vessels” involved in corrupt practices. He stated, “Those complaining are the same empty vessels that are busy stealing and diverting budgeted and appropriated funds.”
Obi’s borehole donations have been crucial in addressing the long-standing challenge of access to clean drinking water in these communities. In some areas, residents have been deprived of clean water for up to three decades, with some resorting to drinking from shared sources contaminated by domestic animals.
Despite facing criticism, Obi’s contributions have been widely applauded for addressing a critical need in underserved communities. Shehu commended Obi’s generosity and magnanimity, emphasizing the importance of such initiatives in improving the lives of marginalized populations.
Shehu also highlighted that Obi’s actions were driven solely by a desire to make a positive impact, rather than political gain, stating, “At least, he has done that not as part of constituency projects. Nor does he control any vote.”
Furthermore, Shehu criticized APC members who have failed to fulfill their responsibilities to their constituencies, noting, “This is at a time when most of those complaining of Obi’s donation have not visited their constituencies since after the last elections.”
