Soludo Says Relationship With Peter Obi Remains Cordial Despite Political Differences

Anambra State Governor, Chukwuma Soludo, has dismissed suggestions of a personal rift between him and former governor Peter Obi, saying their relationship remains cordial despite their political differences.

Soludo made this known in an interview with BBC News Igbo on Monday, explaining that both families maintained close ties even though they held different political interests.

“Peter Obi and I are good friends. Our two families are on good terms. His wife gave birth to my child in the divine water, my wife gave birth to his child in the confirmation. But when it comes to politics, give me mine, give him his. It’s politics that is being done,” he said.

The governor said their political differences did not affect their personal relationship, adding that Obi supported his preferred candidate during the Anambra governorship election, while he pursued his own political interests.

“He has someone he thinks should be the governor of Anambra. I am also listening. He supported the person he wanted. But I won by the grace of God,” Soludo added.

His comments come amid renewed disagreements between both men over Obi’s record as governor and the financial position of Anambra State when he left office in 2014. They had also disagreed in September over claims that Obi and his wife were godparents to Soludo’s children.

Obi had described the relationship between their families as cordial, but the media aide to the Anambra First Lady, Daniel Ezeigwe, clarified that the godparent relationships involved different religious ceremonies.

Soludo also revisited his controversial 2022 article questioning Obi’s presidential ambition, saying he did not predict that the former governor would lose the 2023 election. He explained that his argument was that Obi’s candidacy would split opposition votes and improve the chances of the All Progressives Congress candidate, Bola Tinubu.

“I didn’t say he wouldn’t win. What I said was that it is impossible for someone who is a presidential candidate of a party to not even write a letter saying he is running,” he said.

The governor further disclosed that he had personally invited Obi to join the All Progressives Grand Alliance in March 2022 to contest the presidency, explaining that their initial discussions focused on mobilising the Igbo people rather than simply securing political power.

Soludo maintained that a united opposition would not automatically guarantee victory against an incumbent administration, stressing that political alliances must be built on proper deliberations and strategy.