Former Anambra State Governor, Mr. Peter Obi, has drawn attention to the striking contrast between leadership conduct in the United States and Nigeria, following his ongoing three-day trip to the USA.
Mr. Obi, who departed Lagos on 24 September for visits to Washington and Chicago with a stopover in Atlanta, travelled on Delta Airlines, the first American airline, which has operated for over a century.
On arrival at Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport, widely regarded as the busiest in the world, Obi noted its scale and economic impact. The airport handles over 100 million passengers annually—five times the total traffic of all Nigerian airports combined—and generates about $32 billion annually for the City of Atlanta and $70 billion for the wider metropolitan area and the State of Georgia.
According to him, Atlanta City itself runs on an annual budget of about $3 billion (over ₦4.5 trillion). Its current Mayor, Mr. Andre Dickens, a former businessman turned politician, has prioritised public safety, youth opportunities, crime reduction, and a $15 minimum hourly wage for council workers. Dickens’ personal worth is estimated at about $10 million.
Obi disclosed that he met the Mayor and both travelled on the same flight from Atlanta to Washington. He observed that at the airport, on board, and on arrival at Ronald Reagan National Airport, there was no special announcement of Dickens’ presence, no aides carrying his luggage, and no preferential treatment during boarding or disembarkation.
Comparing this with Nigeria, Obi remarked that governors—many of whom preside over budgets far smaller than Atlanta’s—and even local government chairmen with allocations less than 1% of Atlanta’s, often cause public disruption with sirens, protocol entourages, endless announcements, and conspicuous displays of power.
“Our public conduct and behaviour must change,” Obi stressed.
