Victor EzejaLabour Party presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi has responded to the comments of Anambra State Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo on his performance as governor of the state.
Obi who spoke at the Lagos Business School (LBS) 2022 alumni conference on Tuesday, said government is a continuum, and as such, Soludo can do better for the state with his current position as governor.
Soludo had in an interview on Channels TV ‘Politics Today’ programme last Thursday, said investments of Obi for Anambra State when he was governor, were today, worth ‘’next to nothing.’’
On Monday, the former Central Bank of Nigeria governor, in a lengthy article titled ‘History Beckons and I Will Not Be Silent (Part 1),’ claimed that Obi has no structure to win the 2023 presidential election and was merely playing games.
Reacting, the LP presidential candidate pointed out that the company, International Breweries, he invested in on behalf of Anambra State is currently employing over 10,000 people from the state adding that the investment is doing well.
Explaining the investment, Obi said, “When you spread your investment, some will go up, some will come down. But overall, the company is still there. The company is still doing well. It’s still part of a global chain and everything. I needed to explain it not because I’m defending comments made by my brother.”
Obi further remarked that Soludo is a Professor, more intelligent than him, who is a trader and therefore, has more chances to do better than him now that he is the governor.
He added that he will continue to pray for him as a brother to achieve all he (Obi) couldn’t achieve as governor.
“My brother is a brother and remains my brother. We’re very close. I remain prayerful for him. Of other things which I didn’t succeed, God has given him the opportunity to do it and succeed.
“For me if there is anything pending, in governance, you don’t finish. People are still in government in America. So, you stop where you stop. Other people will continue from there.
“He is the Governor of the State; he is my senior brother, he is even more intelligent than me because he is a professor, and I am a trader, so he knows more and will be able to do things better than I am doing it.
“I have done my little own as a trader, now the professor is there he will do his own as a professor, the schools I didn’t roof he will roof them, that’s how government goes.
“The one they said is worthless, we invested $3.5 billion in International Breweries. International Breweries is part of AB InBev which is the biggest brewery in the whole world,” he said.
“We had a policy when I was governor that any company, foreign investor who wants to invest in Anambra State, we will buy 10 percent of the company, and under the condition, we started an agreement that they will give Anambra people work to the minimum of not less than 40 percent.
“They built a facility in Anambra State. That facility is there today employing, directly and indirectly, over 10,000 Anambrarians. They bring one of the highest revenue source for the state”,” Obi added.
READ ALSO: Soludo Mere Detractor, Ignore Him, Supporters Tell Obi
‘Soludo itching for limelight’
Obi-Datti Presidential Campaign Organisation has also reacted to Soludo’s comment describing him as one who is rabidly seeking attention.
In a statement signed by the spokesperson for the Obi-Datti presidential campaign organisation, Ndi Kato, the organisation accused Soludo of forming alliance with other political opponents while also pursuing personal vendetta.
Kato said the campaign team and the LP presidential candidate have more critical things to do and had no interest in joining issues with Soludo at the moment.
The statement read, “We read with amusement and dismay, a very lengthy and belaboured treatise of an article, written by Professor Chukwuma Soludo, Governor of Anambra State, focused on our presidential candidate, His Excellency Peter Obi.
“It seems obvious that Professor Soludo is itching for limelight in this election season, perhaps fired up by possible understanding or alliance with our struggling political opponents.
“While we note the glaring fallacies, misrepresentations, personal insinuations and signs of personal vendetta in that long writeup, neither His Excellency Peter Obi, the Obi-Datti Presidential Campaign Organisation, nor the Labour Party, for that matter, has any interest in an extended engagement with Prof Soludo this critical time when there is a bigger fish to fry.
“His Excellency Peter Obi has his work well cut-out for him this campaign season.
“Primarily, he is accelerating his reach-out and influence to all Nigerians, rural and urban, in all areas, regions and states; and firmly engaging them, on his critical and visionary plans to take the country from consumption to production.
“In doing this, Mr. Peter Obi is firmly placing the youths, intensive agricultural revolution, and revamping of critical areas of the economy as part of the focal points in the drive to turn around our fortunes and take back our country.
“We, the youths, spreading across partisan political lines, have found reason to place the highest level of trust and confidence in HE Peter Obi, and we are committed to continue in partnership with him, transparently, vigorously and creatively, to bring to fruition the vital changes urgently required in this our country of so much potential.
“We strongly believe that ‘A New Nigeria is POssible…’ and together with Peter Obi, we are working to make this a reality.
“This is our focus; this is our occupation.. and we shall not be distracted!”
Victor Ezeja is a passionate journalist with six years of experience writing on economy, politics and energy. He holds a Masters degree in Mass Communication.
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