Meet Benjamin, Peter Obi’s fan who inspired viral #LabourChallenge — and drives truck as medical student

By Genevieve Aningo

Peter Obi’s popularity continues to grow at the tick of every second ahead of the 2023 election. The presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) enjoys massive fanbase on social media, particularly from the youths. For many Nigerian youths, it’s Obi for president in 2023 or nothing.

One of such staunch supporters of the former governor’s presidential bid is Chinedu Benjamin, a final-year medical student at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH), and tipper driver from Enugu State.

Like Obi, Benjamin’s story is that of resilience and sheer determination to navigate the odds.

He became a viral sensation on July 15th after inspiring the now-viral labour challenge in support of Obi’s response to Bola Tinubu, presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), who predicted that the Labour Party “will labour till death”.

Obi had in his response to Tinubu wrote: “there is dignity in labour”. As a supporter of the ex-Anambra governor, Benjamin made a lemonade out of the response.

In this interview with CRISPNG, Benjamin reflects on his support for Obi’s presidential bid, inspiring #LabourChallenge and how he balances life as a medical student and tipper driver. 

Please Introduce yourself

My name is Chinedum Benjamin, born in 30th September, 1995. final year medical student at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH). I hail from Ebe, in Udi LGA, Enugu state and reside in Enugu. I’m a Christian of the Roman Catholic Denomination.

During the Osun state Rally on 13th July, Tinubu made a statement in Yoruba which translates to : “they are Labour Party, they say there are labour, they will labour till death” but Obi replied -“there is Dignity in Labour”. Then you tweeted on 15th July, and that cascaded the Labour challenge among youth across the country. How do you feel inspiring such a viral trend?

I was surprised at what happened that morning, I just made my usual tweet with two hashtags, #labour and #labourchallenge because I follow trends. It went a different way that day and the tweet went viral, I was so marveled and dumbfounded. But the comment section made me know that my little story was a great motivation and inspiration to many Nigerians. That made me so happy.

I'm a final year medical student👨‍⚕️ and a tipper driver🚚 in Enugu . There is dignity in #labour.#LabourChallenge pic.twitter.com/5oxVJ5r1xv

— Dr. Chinedum Benjamin (@Chinedumbenja) July 15, 2022

What was on your mind while tweeting the now-viral post?

I was just being “OBIdient” — a term used by supporters of Peter Obi — as usual. So, when I saw the hashtag, #labourchallenge, I decided to join my OBIdient family and tell Nigerians that there is dignity in labour.

Checks on your handle shows you’re a supporter of Obi…do you think he can dislodge Atiku and Tinubu in 2023?

I can’t say what will happen, but I can tell you that Mr. Peter Obi is the people’s choice.

Youths like you have been rooting for Obi on social media…why do you think he will make a better president?

He has a proven record in Anambra state. And he will always tell people to go and verify, yet nobody has found any fault. Secondly when he speaks I see a lot of qualities in him, both as a leader, a father and a successful businessman. He speaks with facts and figures. He has a clear vision of what he’s going to do in the office of the presidency. He went to Egypt to learn how they make their country better and he will apply that knowledge.

He has plans of turning Nigeria from a consuming nation into a producing nation and this will create more job opportunities and reduce idleness, poverty, vices and crime rates. I can write a full book on this but let me stop by telling you what I personally understand of PETER OBI as Peaceful, Excellent, Trustworthy, Educator, Responsible, Organizer, Brave and Intelligent. 

Do you think the Youths would translate the social media support into vote?

Yes! I went to see my friend today, but his roommate told me he went to do his PVC, the 5th day and the 5th time he has been going for it relentlessly. I have my PVC already and I have done online revalidation and change of location too. I think many people are ready and willing, and will eventually vote.

Let’s talk about you…you’re a medical student and also a tipper driver, how do you juggle both?

I only go to the site when I get a contract. Medical school won’t give you time for any other thing except part time work or online business. I go to sites during school holidays, strikes and lockdown. 

Can you tell us how you came about driving a truck?

After my WAEC exams in 2013 I joined my brother to work. I was doing conductor work, loading the tipper with sand or gravel and directing him when we got to the supply area. After some time I requested that he teach me how to drive. So he taught me and I started driving.

I worked with him for six months, then went back to lessons/tutorials for my UME and Post UME. Then I got admission to study Medicine and Surgery in UNN the following year(2014). Then I was away from Enugu urban, because we spent the first year in Nsukka. Then from second year I continued working with him. 

What are your major challenges in this regard?

Finance. I do this work for two reasons

One is, I have a hustling spirit and secondly because I need to support my brother and siblings in training me in school, because my parents are late.