Peter Obi Says He and His Wife Are Godparents to Soludo’s Children, Denies Rift
Former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi has dismissed reports of a personal disagreement between him and his successor, Governor Chukwuma Soludo.
Obi said his relationship with Soludo remains close despite political differences and public disagreements over issues concerning Anambra State.
He made the clarification while speaking at the 22nd All Nigeria Editors Conference in Enugu on Friday, September 25, 2026.
Obi Says He and Soludo Are Close
Obi explained that his relationship with Soludo goes beyond politics.
He said he respects Soludo as the sitting governor of Anambra State and continues to maintain a personal relationship with him.
The former governor also revealed that he and his wife are godparents to some of Soludo’s children.
“People might not know, my wife and I are godparents to Soludo’s children. Yes, we are that close,” Obi said, according to reports from his address to editors.
He added that the two men would not allow political disagreements to destroy their personal relationship.
Obi said he would still embrace Soludo if they met, stressing that there was no personal fight between them.
Political Differences Remain
The clarification comes amid public exchanges between Obi and Soludo over issues connected to Anambra State.
Soludo succeeded Obi as governor in 2014.
Obi has rejected suggestions that he left Anambra with the debts attributed to his administration.
While speaking to editors, he again insisted that he did not leave the state in debt when he completed his tenure.
The former governor instead claimed that his administration left significant savings for the state. He said he left $150 million in savings when he handed over power in 2014.
That figure is Obi’s own claim, and it forms part of an ongoing political disagreement over the state’s finances.
Obi Defends His Record in Anambra
Obi also argued that the financial obligations being discussed should be considered alongside the savings he said were left by his administration.
He maintained that even if the disputed liabilities were attributed to his tenure, the savings he claimed to have left would have placed the state in a strong financial position.
The former governor said the issue should not be turned into a personal dispute between him and Soludo.
Obi Calls for Issue-Based Politics
During his appearance at the editors’ conference, Obi also urged the media to hold politicians accountable ahead of the 2027 general election.
He called for political campaigns to focus on issues such as good governance, security, national unity and economic prosperity.
The former Anambra governor said politicians should be questioned about their records, qualifications, policies and campaign promises.
Obi said the fact that a state has a particular governor does not mean every resident of that state must support the governor’s political position.
Personal Relationship Remains a Focus
Obi’s comments have drawn attention because of the public perception of his relationship with Soludo.
By highlighting their family connection, he sought to distinguish their personal relationship from political disagreements.
His statement that he and his wife are godparents to Soludo’s children also provided additional context about the longstanding relationship between the two families.
Obi maintained that they are not fighting and said he would continue to respect Soludo as Anambra’s governor.
The comments underline Obi’s position that political disagreements do not necessarily mean personal hostility, even when the two sides disagree publicly on important issues.
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