The First Lady of Anambra State, Dr Nonye Soludo, has clarified the relationship between her family and that of former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi, denying claims that Obi is the godfather of any of the children of Governor Chukwuma Soludo and his wife.
The clarification followed the circulation of a video in which Obi described himself and his wife, Margaret, as godparents to some of Governor Soludo’s children.
In a statement issued by her Media Assistant, Dan Ezeigwe, Mrs Soludo said the claim was inaccurate and had prompted enquiries from members of the public and the media.
She said the family considered it necessary to clarify the matter because of the widespread circulation of Obi’s remarks and the impression they could create about the relationship between the two families.
“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.
According to the First Lady, it was possible that Obi had misspoken while making his remarks. However, she said the circulation of the video made it necessary to establish the facts concerning the relationship between the two families.
“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,” she said.
Mrs Soludo stressed that the relationship between the two families remained cordial, despite the political differences that have emerged between Obi and Governor Soludo.
“The relationship between the two families is cordial and there is no need to misrepresent it in any manner,” she added.
She subsequently provided details of the actual godparent relationships involving members of the two families.
According to her, she serves as the confirmation godmother to Obi’s daughter, while Obi’s wife, Margaret, is the baptismal godmother to one of Governor Soludo’s daughters.
“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,” the statement explained.
Mrs Soludo further stated that neither Peter Obi nor Governor Soludo had served as a godparent to the other’s children.
“Neither Mr. Obi nor Professor Soludo has served as a godparent to the other’s children,” she said.
The clarification comes against the background of renewed political disagreements between Obi and Soludo, particularly over issues concerning Anambra State’s finances and the obligations inherited by successive administrations.
Obi, who is the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress for the 2027 election, has disputed claims that his administration left significant debts for subsequent governments. The former governor has argued that some financial obligations attributed to his administration were development financing arrangements involving the Federal Government and participating states.
The disagreement over the state’s finances has generated public debate between supporters of the two political figures, although both men have maintained that their political differences should not necessarily be interpreted as a personal dispute.
Obi addressed the issue during an interaction with members of the Nigerian Guild of Editors in Enugu on Friday, where he also sought to downplay suggestions that he had a personal quarrel with Governor Soludo.
While speaking about his relationship with Soludo, Obi referred to the governor as his “respected elder brother” and maintained that their political differences had not destroyed their personal relationship.
It was during the same remarks that Obi reportedly described himself and his wife as godparents to Soludo’s children, prompting the subsequent clarification from the Anambra First Lady.
Mrs Soludo’s statement did not accuse Obi of deliberately misrepresenting the relationship. Instead, she suggested that he might have made an inadvertent error while speaking.
The First Lady’s clarification therefore sought to distinguish between the cordial relationship shared by the two families and the political differences between the two former and current governors.
The issue has attracted attention partly because of the political history linking Obi and Soludo. Obi served as Anambra governor before handing over to Willie Obiano in 2014, while Soludo became governor in 2022 after previously serving as Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria.
Both men have remained influential figures in Anambra and national politics, and their public disagreements have frequently attracted political commentary.
With the latest clarification, the Soludo family has formally stated that the godparent relationships between the two families are limited to the roles identified by the First Lady.
Mrs Soludo urged the public and media organisations to take note of the clarification and avoid creating an impression that Peter Obi serves as godfather to any of Governor Soludo’s children.
Her statement also emphasised that, notwithstanding political disagreements between the two men, the relationship between their families remains cordial.
The clarification has consequently shifted attention from the broader political disagreements to the specific facts concerning the relationship between the two families, with the First Lady providing what she described as the accurate account of their respective godparent roles.
