Peter Obi is not the godfather of any of Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s children, the Anambra State First Lady’s media aide, Daniel Ezeigwe, has clarified.
Ezeigwe issued the clarification on Saturday after a comment by Obi at the 22nd Conference of the Nigerian Guild of Editors in Enugu generated public interest.
Obi, a former governor of Anambra State and presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 election, had said he and his wife were godparents to Soludo’s children while dismissing reports of a rift between him and the governor.
‘People might not know, my wife and I are godparents to Soludo’s children. Yes, we are that close. So we are not quarrelling, and we will never quarrel. If I see him any day, me and him will hug and everything. If they say anything, I’ll answer them,’ Obi said.
The comment was subsequently circulated widely on social media, prompting questions about the nature of the relationship between the two families.
In a statement, Ezeigwe said Obi’s claim was incorrect and provided details of the actual godparent relationships involving the families.
‘The attention of the First Lady of Anambra State, Dr Nonye Soludo, has been drawn to a viral video in which the former Governor of Anambra State, Mr Peter Obi, claimed that ‘he and his wife are godparents to Soludo’s children’,’ he said.
‘Following the widespread circulation of the video, we have received several calls and enquiries seeking clarification on the claim.
‘We hereby state clearly that the claim, as presented, is false. For the avoidance of doubt:
‘Mr Peter Obi is not a godfather to any of the children of Professor Chukwuma and Dr Nonye Soludo.’
Ezeigwe said Dr Nonye Soludo serves as the confirmation godmother to Obi’s daughter, while Obi’s wife, Margaret, is the baptismal godmother to one of Soludo’s daughters.
‘Dr Nonye Soludo, First Lady of Anambra State, is the confirmation ‘godmother’ to Peter Obi’s daughter,’ the statement said.
‘Mrs Margaret Obi, wife of Mr Peter Obi, is the baptismal godmother to one of Prof Chukwuma Soludo’s daughters.’
‘Neither Mr Obi nor Professor Soludo has served as a godparent to the other’s children,’ it added.
The aide said Obi may have misspoken while making his remarks but said the widespread circulation of the video made it necessary to clarify the relationship.
‘It is possible that Mr Peter Obi simply misspoke in the course of making his remarks. However, given the widespread circulation of the video and the enquiries it has generated, it is important that the record be set straight,’ he said.
He added that the relationship between the two families remained cordial despite their political differences.
‘The relationship between the two families is cordial and there is no need to misrepresent it in any manner,’ the statement said.
Obi had also described Soludo as a close associate, recalling their relationship from his time as governor and Soludo’s career in banking.
‘Me and Soludo are close. As a banker, he was my customer. And we have not changed. If I see him, I greet him, I respect his office he’s the governor,’ Obi said.
‘So, we’re not quarrelling! And we will never quarrel! If I see him any day, me and him will hug and everything.’