Anambra State Governor Chukwuma Soludo has described Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate and former Anambra governor Peter Obi as his brother, saying their differences are “fundamentally political.”
Obi governed Anambra State between 2006 and 2014 as a member of Soludo’s All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA). He joined the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 2014, running as Atiku Abubakar’s running mate in 2019 before winning the Peoples Democratic Party’s presidential ticket on May 30 in Asaba, Delta State.
Soludo’s remarks came 10 days after his scathing opinion piece on Obi, in which he accused his predecessor of using his presidential bid to play a game he allegedly could not win.
However, photos surfaced of the two Anambra political titans embracing on Thursday at the 70th Birthday Thanksgiving celebration of the Catholic Bishop of Awka, Most Rev. Paulinus Ezeokafor, held at St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Awka.
According to a statement by Soludo’s press secretary, Christian Aburime, when Soludo arrived at the church, he promptly approached Obi and hugged him as people watched with surprise.
In his remarks, Soludo stated that he would soon meet with Obi to iron out their differences.
“Today is very special. When we came into the service, it was the first time, my brother, Peter Obi and I are meeting at a public event and in a Catholic Church which the two of us belong to. I think it was divine,” the governor said.
“Let me tell you, we spoke two times, just last night. We are brothers. You know I am not one of those politicians that speak from two sides of the mouth. I can’t pretend. I am a politician, but also want to make heaven. I will keep saying the truth.
“There is no rift between Obi and me at a personal level. Nobody snatched each other’s wife. What appears to be the rift between us is fundamentally political differences. Nothing else.”
The governor also dismissed allegations of $28m bribery received by him to run down the LP presidential candidate.
“For those forging blackmail and all that, including the one they said I collected a bribe to say what I said, I asked them to bring it so I will use it to construct roads. If Soludo is into bribery, I would have been a multi-trillionaire now.
“On the fundamental differences we have, we are going to meet in the next few weeks. We’ve agreed to discuss and iron out our differences. We must get it done. Anambra is for all of us.”
While thanking God for the life of the celebrant, Soludo pointed out that the cleric had had a great influence on him and his government.
“You changed my thinking when you visited my village house in 2019 and rejected the foreign wine offered to you in the place of palm wine. Today at the Governor’s lodge, the highest wine served there is palm wine,” he said.
“I was also humbled by the moderate type of car you drove to my house. You told me you chose not to go with a vehicle far above the average of those you are pastoring. I think this is exemplary.
“When you see me drive Innoson cars, that’s part of the inspiration I got from you. If not for security, I would have been riding bicycles to work.
“We are taking the prudence you taught us to the next level because when we came in, it cost us over N137m to clean offices. Now, it costs barely N11m. I can only promise to take the message to the world.”