Anambra State First Lady, Dr Nonye Soludo, has denied that former governor Peter Obi is the godfather of any of her children, following the circulation of a video in which Obi described himself and his wife as godparents to Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s children.
The clarification comes amid renewed political disagreements between Obi and Soludo, including a recent public dispute over the financial obligations inherited by successive Anambra administrations. Obi has disputed claims that his administration left debts for subsequent governments.
Obi, the Nigeria Democratic Congress presidential candidate for the 2027 election, had told the Nigerian Guild of Editors in Enugu on Friday that he and his wife were godparents to Soludo’s children, while insisting there was no personal quarrel between the two men.
But in a statement issued by her Media Assistant, Dan Ezeigwe, Mrs Soludo said Obi was not a godfather to any of the children of the Anambra governor and his wife.
“We urge members of the public, the media and all concerned to take note of this clarification and disregard any impression created by the statement that Mr. Peter Obi is godfather to any of Governor Soludo’s children,” she said.
“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.
“The relationship between the two families is cordial and there is no need to misrepresent it in any manner.”
Mrs Soludo said the family had received several calls and enquiries following the circulation of Obi’s remarks and therefore considered it necessary to clarify the relationship between the families.
“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,” she said.
According to the First Lady, she is the confirmation godmother to Obi’s daughter, while Obi’s wife, Margaret, is the baptismal godmother to one of the Soludos’ daughters.
“The facts concerning the godparent relationship between the two families are as follows; Dr. Nonye Soludo, First Lady of Anambra State, is the confirmation godmother to Peter Obi’s daughter, Mrs. Margaret Obi, wife of Mr. Peter Obi, is the baptismal godmother to one of Professor Chukwuma Soludo’s daughters.
“Neither Mr. Obi nor Professor Soludo has served as a godparent to the other’s children,” she added.
Obi had made the disputed statement while seeking to play down suggestions of a personal feud with Soludo, describing the governor as his “respected elder brother” and saying their political differences had not destroyed their personal relationship.
David-Chyddy Eleke in Awka
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