Anambra State Governor, Professor Chukwuma Soludo, has dismissed suggestions of a personal breakdown in his relationship with former governor Peter Obi, insisting that both men remain friends despite their disagreements over politics and governance.
Soludo made the clarification during an interview with BBC News Igbo on Monday, where he explained that their differences were political and had not affected the relationship between their families.
The governor said both families continued to maintain close ties, stressing that political disagreements should not be mistaken for personal hostility.
“Peter Obi and I are good friends. Our two families are on good terms,” Soludo said.
He also referred to the relationship between their families, explaining that Obi’s wife, Margaret, was the baptismal godmother of one of his children, while his wife, Nonye, was the confirmation godmother of Obi’s daughter.
Soludo said their political interests were different, particularly during the Anambra governorship election, when Obi supported a candidate of his choice while he pursued his own political ambition.
According to the governor, Obi was entitled to support whoever he believed should lead the state, just as he had the right to pursue his own political interests.
He maintained that the disagreement over political choices did not affect their personal relationship.
The latest comments come amid renewed exchanges between both politicians over Obi’s administration of Anambra State and the financial position of the state when he left office in 2014.
The disagreement became more pronounced after the Anambra State Government raised questions about debts allegedly inherited from previous administrations, including Obi’s government.
Obi rejected the claims, insisting that he left office without outstanding obligations to workers, pensioners and contractors. He also said his administration left money in the state’s ecological fund.
The state government subsequently disputed his account, presenting a different position on the financial liabilities inherited by the succeeding administration.
The disagreement also extended to comments about the relationship between the two families. In September, Obi had described himself and his wife as godparents to Soludo’s children while explaining that there was no personal quarrel between him and the governor.
However, a media aide to the Anambra First Lady, Daniel Ezeigwe, later clarified that the relationship involved different religious ceremonies. He explained that Margaret Obi was the baptismal godmother of one of Soludo’s daughters, while Nonye Soludo was the confirmation godmother of Obi’s daughter.
During the BBC interview, Soludo also revisited his controversial 2022 article, History Beckons and I Will Not Be Silent, in which he questioned Obi’s chances in the 2023 presidential election.
The governor clarified that his argument at the time was not simply that Obi would lose the election, but that his emergence as a third-force candidate could divide opposition votes and benefit the All Progressives Congress candidate, Bola Tinubu.
He said Obi’s participation in the presidential race would take votes away from the Peoples Democratic Party, making it easier for the APC candidate to win.
Soludo also recalled that he personally invited Obi to join the All Progressives Grand Alliance in March 2022 to contest the presidency.
He explained that their early discussions were focused on mobilising the Igbo people and building a political platform before seeking power.
The governor further argued that bringing opposition parties together would not automatically guarantee victory against an incumbent administration, stressing that political alliances required proper discussions and planning.
Despite the disagreements over political strategy, the former governor’s record and the state’s finances, Soludo maintained that his relationship with Obi remained cordial.
His latest remarks appear aimed at separating their personal relationship from the political disagreements that have continued to attract public attention.