Former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi has pushed back against reports of a growing rift between him and his successor, Governor Chukwuma Soludo, insisting that their relationship remains cordial despite their recent public disagreements.
Obi, who was the presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 election, made the clarification while speaking with members of the Nigerian Guild of Editors on Friday.
The former governor said the public exchanges between him and Soludo over issues surrounding Anambra State should not be mistaken for a personal feud.
According to Obi, their relationship goes beyond politics, pointing to a personal connection between their families as evidence.
He disclosed that he and his wife are godparents to some of Soludo’s children, describing the relationship as one that would not be easily affected by political disagreements.
“I and my wife are godparents to Soludo’s children. We are that close. I can tell you that we are not quarrelling and we will never quarrel.”
Obi further said that if he encountered Soludo in public, he would have no hesitation embracing him.
“If I see him any day, I will hug him.”
The clarification comes against the backdrop of a lingering disagreement over the financial state of Anambra when Obi handed over power after eight years as governor.
Soludo has previously raised questions about the state’s finances and inherited obligations, while Obi has consistently rejected suggestions that he left the state burdened with debt.
Speaking to the editors, Obi again dismissed the allegation, maintaining that his administration did not leave behind the debt being attributed to it.
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“If they say anything I will answer them and, like I said yesterday, I did not leave debt in Anambra State,” he said.
Rather than leaving the state financially distressed, Obi argued that his administration handed over significant savings.
The former governor claimed that his administration left $150 million in savings when he left office, presenting the figure as evidence of the financial position of the state at the time.
“Thank God Otti confirmed this morning during an interview on Arise TV. I left 150 million dollars in savings. No other governor has left dollars. If you see one, tell me.”