The Dangerous Cult of Performative Leadership

Modern politics has become obsessed with performance. We no longer judge politicians primarily by the institutions they build or the policies they implement, but by the images they create. A politician who walks through a crowded market, flies commercial, or mingles with ordinary citizens is increasingly seen as a better leader than one who quietly delivers results. It is politics shaped by optics rather than outcomes.

No Nigerian politician has embodied this style more successfully than Peter Obi.

Much of Obi’s appeal rests on his image of humility and accessibility. His supporters celebrate the fact that he appears approachable and relatable. During the 2023 campaign, he even spoke about visiting all 774 local government areas within his first year as president. The promise was widely applauded as evidence that he would remain connected to ordinary Nigerians.

But it raises a more important question: should that even be the priority of a president?

The presidency is not a travelling roadshow. It is the executive office responsible for managing national security, economic policy, infrastructure, foreign relations, energy, and the machinery of government. A country of more than 200 million people cannot be governed through constant physical presence. It must be governed through strong institutions.

That is why the promise to visit every local government is less impressive than it first appears. It reflects a view of leadership that places extraordinary value on visibility. Yet effective governance is often invisible. Citizens rarely celebrate procurement reforms, civil service modernization, regulatory efficiency, or better fiscal management, even though these reforms improve lives far more than presidential appearances ever could.

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This is the danger of performative leadership. It teaches citizens to reward symbolism over substance. A photograph becomes more valuable than a functioning institution. A handshake receives more attention than a successful policy. Politicians quickly learn that creating memorable moments often earns more political capital than solving difficult problems.

None of this is to suggest that a president should be detached from the people. Listening matters. Accessibility matters. Humility matters. But they are personal qualities, not governing strategies.

The real test of leadership is whether citizens can experience competent government without needing the president to visit their community. A functioning school, a reliable hospital, secure streets, stable electricity, and economic opportunity are far more meaningful than a presidential handshake.

Politics should never become a competition over who appears closest to the people. It should remain a competition over who can build institutions that serve the people long after the cameras have moved on.