SOLUDO MEETS OBI IN AWKA, CLAIMS THE DISAGREEMENT BETWEEN THEM IS POLITICAL
Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s nominee for president, and Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, the governor of Anambra State, met on Thursday in the state’s capital city of Awka.
At the Thanksgiving mass held at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in honor of Most Rev. Paulinus C. Ezeokafor’s 70th birthday, the two men first met and were afterwards seen hugging and chatting.
People in the congregation watched in shock as Soludo quickly went to where Obi was seated and hugged him.
Despite their political differences, Obi is still Soludo’s brother, according to the former Anambra governor, who called the rift between them “mischievous.”
The governor had discounted the odds of the Labour Party candidate in the 2023 presidential election in an article titled “History beckons and I will not remain silent.”
The story sparked outlandish comments and criticisms around the nation, especially from the “Obedient” movements, where the governor received harsh condemnation.
They unexpectedly met as backlash followed Soludo’s remarks on Obi’s presidential aspirations.
However, few people anticipated that the two men would get back together so soon.
But during the Thanksgiving mass, Soludo announced that he and Obi would soon be meeting to resolve their differences. He also noted that their disagreement was primarily political.
He however, dismissed the rumour of $28m bribery allegations he allegedly collected to run down the LP presidential candidate, saying he would have been a trillionaire if he was into such.
He said, “Today is very special. When we came into the service, it was the first time, my brother, Peter Obi and I are meeting at a public event and in a Catholic Church which the two of us belong to. I think it was divine.
“When I came in, I quickly went to where he sat and hugged him, people watched with bewilderment as if it was a drama, asking if it was not the same people quarrelling.
“Let me tell you, we spoke two times, just last night. We are brothers. You know I am not one of those politicians that speak from two sides of the mouth. I can’t pretend. I am a politician, but also want to make heaven. I will keep saying the truth.
“There is no rift between Obi and me at a personal level. Nobody snatched each other’s wife. What appears to be the rift between us is fundamental political differences. Nothing else.
“So for those forging blackmail and all that, including the one they said I collected bribe to say what I said, I asked them to bring it so I will use it to construct roads. If Soludo is into bribery, I would have been a multi-trillionaire now.
“On the fundamental differences we have, we are going to meet in the next few weeks. We’ve agreed to discuss and iron out our differences. Unfortunately, he’s left. We must get it done. Anambra is for all of us.”
While thanking God for the life of Ezeokafor, the governor pointed out that the cleric has been of great influence on him and his government.
“You changed my thinking when you visited my village house in 2019 and rejected the foreign wine offered to you in the place of palm wine. Today at the Governor’s lodge, the highest wine served there is palm wine.
“I was also humbled by the moderate type of car you drove to my house. You told me you chose not to go with a vehicle far above the average of those you are pastoring. I think this is exemplary.
“When you see me drive Innoson cars, that’s part of the inspiration I got from you. If not for security, I would have been riding bicycles to work.
“We are taking the prudence you taught us to the next level because when we came in, it cost us over N137m to clean offices. Now, it cost barely N11m. I can only promise to take the message to the world.”
Obi left the Thanksgiving ceremony before it was finished, so he did not speak.