Anambra State Governor, Chukwuma Soludo, has cleared the air over his relationship with his predecessor and 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, insisting there is no personal rift between them despite their public political clashes.
Speaking in an interview with BBC News Igbo on Monday, Soludo described their family ties as cordial and deeply rooted, even as they align with competing political camps.
”Peter Obi and I are good friends. Our two families are on good terms. His wife gave birth to my child in the divine water, my wife gave birth to his child in the confirmation,” Soludo stated. “But when it comes to politics, give me mine, give him his. It’s politics that is being done.”
Clarifying the Godfather & Family Ties Debate
Soludo’s remarks follow recent public debate over the exact nature of their spiritual and family connections.
While both leaders maintain close bonds, clarifications emerged recently via Daniel Ezeigwe, media aide to Anambra’s First Lady. Ezeigwe noted that Nonye Soludo served as confirmation godmother to Obi’s daughter, while Obi’s wife, Margaret, served as baptismal godmother to one of Soludo’s daughters.
Addressing their political rivalries in state elections, Soludo noted:
”He supported the person he wanted [for governor]. But I won by the grace of God.”
Revisiting the 2022 “History Beckons” Controversy
The governor also addressed his widely read November 2022 article, “History Beckons and I Will Not Be Silent,” in which he critically analyzed Obi’s presidential run under the Labour Party.
Soludo clarified that his core argument at the time was strategic rather than personal. He explained that Obi’s emergence as a formidable third-force candidate split opposition votes away from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), ultimately paving a smoother path for All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate Bola Tinubu to claim victory.
The APGA Invitation: Soludo revealed that in early March 2022, he personally invited Obi to join the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) to contest the presidency.
Igbo Mobilization & Alliances: He noted that early discussions focused on how to strategically mobilize the South-East region before negotiating broader national alliances.
Winning Against Incumbents: Looking ahead toward 2027, Soludo cautioned that forming a united opposition is only the starting point and offers no guarantee of defeating an incumbent administration.
”Even if you have a united opposition, it still does not guarantee you get to defeat an incumbent. But that is even the starting point,” Soludo remarked.
