The media office representing Peter Obi has firmly pushed back against what it describes as persistent and unfounded allegations regarding his tenure as Anambra State governor. These claims, they argue, are part of a deliberate effort to distort the former governor’s accomplishments using ethnic and regional divisions.
According to a statement released by Ibrahim Umar, spokesperson for the Peter Obi Media Office, the assertion that Obi removed Northern residents from the state is entirely false and lacks any evidence. The office specifically addressed the narrative that Obi targeted Hausa traders and beggars, calling it a myth with no basis in fact.
During Obi’s leadership, the statement explains, there was a welfare initiative aimed at assisting vulnerable individuals from various parts of the country. This program was not an expulsion but a compassionate effort to help destitute people and homeless children in cities like Awka and Onitsha. The initiative covered citizens from multiple states without any ethnic discrimination.
Far from dividing communities, Obi’s administration promoted strong ties with Northern and Muslim populations in Anambra. The statement highlights that, even during periods of national ethno-religious tension, Obi acted as a protector for Northern residents, especially in areas such as the Onitsha Hausa Quarter, known as Ama Awusa. He worked to prevent retaliatory violence and earned respect from Northern community leaders.
Additionally, the Obi administration supported Muslim residents by sponsoring their pilgrimages to Mecca, ensuring they received the same recognition and government assistance as Christians. Northern traders and livestock merchants in markets like Amansea were given safe spaces to work, free from harassment or extortion. These facts, the office says, can be verified by anyone, including critics, and are corroborated by the Hausa-Fulani community in Onitsha and Awka.
The statement suggests that the smear campaign stems from political opponents threatened by Obi’s transformative vision for the North. Obi has consistently described the North as Nigeria’s future economic engine, advocating for a shift from consumption to production and turning the region into Africa’s agricultural hub.
Concluding with a reflection on the power of repeated falsehoods, the office vowed not to ignore the lies, emphasizing that Obi’s unmatched vision for the North will ultimately prevail.