Anambra State Governor, Professor Chukwuma Soludo, has dismissed suggestions of a personal disagreement between him and former governor Peter Obi, insisting that their relationship remains cordial despite their contrasting political positions.
Soludo made this known during an interview with BBC News Igbo on Monday, where he explained that their political differences had not affected the relationship between their families.
According to the governor, both families maintain a good relationship, even though the two politicians have different political interests and preferences.
“Peter Obi and I are good friends. Our two families are on good terms. But when it comes to politics, give me mine, give him his. It’s politics that is being done,” he said.
Soludo also recalled that both politicians supported different candidates during the last Anambra governorship election. While Obi backed his preferred candidate, Soludo maintained his political position and eventually secured victory.
He said the disagreement over political choices should not be interpreted as a personal dispute between them.
SOLUDO CLARIFIES HIS CONTROVERSIAL REMARKS ABOUT OBI
The governor also revisited his controversial November 2022 article titled History Beckons and I Will Not Be Silent, in which he questioned Peter Obi’s chances of winning the 2023 presidential election.
Soludo clarified that he did not specifically predict that Obi would lose the election. Rather, he argued that Obi’s decision to contest as a third-force candidate would divide opposition votes, particularly those that might otherwise have gone to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
He explained that Obi’s presidential ambition could weaken the opposition’s chances and make it easier for the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Bola Tinubu, to emerge victorious.
“In fact, I also wrote to him that his participation would take away a lot of votes from the PDP and make it easier for Tinubu to win,” the governor said.
Soludo further argued that bringing opposition parties together would not automatically guarantee victory against an incumbent administration.
He maintained that political alliances require proper planning, negotiations and a clear understanding of electoral realities.
SOLUDO RECALLS INVITING OBI TO JOIN APGA
The Anambra governor also disclosed that he personally invited Obi to join the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in March 2022 to pursue the presidential ticket.
According to him, the invitation was extended during a meeting at Nnamdi Azikiwe University, where their discussions focused on political mobilisation and the need to bring the Igbo people together.
Soludo explained that the initial conversation was not simply about Obi becoming president but also about building a broader political movement and establishing strategic alliances before seeking political power.
He said political success required deliberate consultation and cooperation rather than assuming that electoral victory could be achieved without a carefully developed strategy.
DISAGREEMENT OVER ANAMBRA’S FINANCIAL RECORD
Soludo’s latest comments come amid renewed disagreements between the two former and current governors over the financial position of Anambra State when Obi left office in 2014.
The controversy intensified after the Anambra State Government alleged that previous administrations, including those led by Obi and Willie Obiano, left outstanding debts.
Obi rejected the allegations, insisting that his administration did not leave unpaid salaries, pensions or contractors. He also maintained that he left money in the state’s ecological fund.
However, the state government disputed his account, putting the outstanding debt attributed to his administration at $123.77 million.
The disagreement generated public reactions, with both sides defending their respective positions.
Obi had previously dismissed suggestions of a personal quarrel with Soludo, maintaining that their families shared a close relationship despite their political differences.
Soludo’s latest interview reinforces his position that disagreements over governance, political strategy and economic issues should not necessarily translate into personal hostility.
The governor maintained that he and Obi remain friends, even though they continue to hold different views about politics and the direction of the country.
