Nigerians turn Obi’s birthday into national giving day

DDM News

(DDM) – In an unprecedented show of support and admiration, Nigerians across all 36 states, including volatile regions like Rivers, Kaduna, and Edo, marked the 64th birthday of former Anambra State Governor and Labour Party presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi, with acts of generosity and social impact.

Diaspora Digital Media (DDM) gathered that the celebrations were not characterised by the usual fanfare or personal tributes typical of Nigerian political birthdays.

Instead, thousands of Nigerians, many of them young people and supporters of the “Obidient” movement, mobilised their own resources, reportedly running into hundreds of millions of nairato fund projects benefiting the poor and vulnerable.

Food for the celebration with the poor

From community kitchens serving the hungry in Port Harcourt to free medical outreaches in Zaria, and empowerment drives for widows and small-scale traders in Benin City, the coordinated acts of kindness stood out as a people-led initiative in honour of one man’s example of public service without extravagance.

Social media was flooded with photos and videos showing Nigerians distributing food items, paying hospital bills for patients who had been detained over unpaid fees, and donating school materials to underserved students.

The hashtag #PeterObi@64 trended across platforms, amplifying both the message of charity and the symbolic rejection of wasteful political culture.

Peter Obi, who is widely regarded as a frugal and conscientious politician, has long stated his refusal to celebrate birthdays with pomp.

In a statement he shared on Facebook, he reiterated his belief that birthdays should be redirected towards impacting lives, especially in a country plagued by poverty, hunger, and poor healthcare.

“I do not personally celebrate birthdays,” Obi said. “Rather, I ask that anyone who wishes to honour me should do so by helping the poor or contributing to health and education causes.”

Obi also revealed how, as governor, he turned down a proposed ₦120 million mansion birthday gift and redirected the funds to build classrooms across three towns in Anambra, Agulu, Ekwulobia, and Abatete.

Similarly, a ₦20 million birthday party plan was converted to 200 desktop computers for schools, and buses meant as birthday tributes were distributed to institutions like the Old Rangers Football Association.

The latest celebration, orchestrated without his direct involvement, further highlights his moral influence on a significant section of Nigeria’s youth population.

However, some political analysts are raising concerns about the deepening politicisation of personal goodwill.

While many hailed the national acts of kindness as a revolution of values, critics argue that such symbolic gestures might be masking the need for structural reforms.

One commentator, writing under a pseudonym, remarked, “Nigerians are being forced to step into the shoes of failed government.

It is admirable, yes, but also dangerous. The state cannot abdicate responsibility to birthday-inspired activism.”

Still, supporters insist that Peter Obi’s example is precisely what Nigeria needs in a time of moral crisis and leadership fatigue.

They describe him as a public servant who inspires action by leading with integrity, moderation, and accountability.

As Nigeria continues to reel from economic hardship, inflation, and insecurity, the spontaneous acts of kindness in Obi’s name provide a rare glimpse of unity and collective empathy in a deeply divided nation.

Whether this translates into long-term political capital remains to be seen.

But for now, Peter Obi’s 64th birthday has become more than a personal milestone, it has evolved into a national moment of reflection on what it means to serve and to be remembered.

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