Northern Leaders in Anambra Reject Claims of Peter Obi’s Anti-Northern Policies, Back 2027 Ambition

…says “Obi Donated Money To Rebuild Mosque, Gave Us Free Education, Loans“

Leaders of the Northern Community in Anambra State have dismissed allegations that former Anambra State governor and presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) in the 2027 election, Peter Obi, discriminated against northerners during his tenure in office.

The northern community leaders, who spoke separately with reporters in Onitsha and Awka, also rejected allegations by Obi’s political opponents that the former governor ordered the demolition of a mosque in the state while he was in office.

The leaders described the allegations as politically motivated attempts to damage Obi’s reputation ahead of the 2027 general election, insisting that their personal experiences during his administration did not support the claims of discrimination being circulated against him.

According to the community leaders, northerners living in Anambra maintained a cordial relationship with the Obi administration and benefited from several government programmes introduced during his tenure.

They specifically cited free education, agricultural loans and sponsorship for the annual Hajj pilgrimage as some of the initiatives from which members of the northern community benefited.

Those who spoke included the Secretary of the Northern Community in charge of Anambra and Delta states, Mr Mahmud Ibrahim, a lawyer; the traditional ruler of the Hausa Community in Awka, Alhaji Garba Haruna; and the Chairman of the Northern Community in Anambra State, Alhaji Gidado Sidikki.

Ibrahim, who said he had served as secretary of the community for decades, provided details about the controversy surrounding the mosque, insisting that the building was demolished before Obi became governor.

“Our relationship with Mr Peter Obi during his tenure as governor and even now is cordial.

“We want to make it clear that the rumour that he demolished our mosque while he was governor is untrue,” he said.

According to Ibrahim, the mosque was demolished in February 2006 during a reprisal attack associated with the Sharia crisis, while Obi assumed office as governor in March of the same year.

He said the former governor not only visited members of the northern community who had been displaced by the crisis but also played a role in helping them return and rebuild.

“In fact, it was Obi who visited us at the Army Barracks in Onitsha where we were staying as refugees. He later escorted us back to the mosque and donated money towards its rebuilding.

“So, we do not understand where this story is coming from,” Ibrahim said.

Ibrahim also dismissed claims that Obi forced northerners to obtain identity cards as a condition for remaining in Anambra State.

He explained that the identification cards issued by the Northern Community were introduced by the community itself to help identify its members, stressing that the cards should not be confused with the Anambra State identification system.

“As for the identity cards, it was the Northern Community in Anambra State that came together and decided that we would issue identity cards to our brothers for identification. The ANIDS card was different. It was for everybody in Anambra State. The governor, his commissioners and everyone else had theirs, including myself,” he said.

The traditional ruler of the Hausa Community in Awka, Alhaji Garba Haruna, also rejected allegations that Obi’s administration operated policies that discriminated against northerners or created a divide between indigenes and non-indigenes.

“I never witnessed or heard of any policy that created a distinction between indigenes and non-indigenes under Obi.

“Our relationship then and even now remains cordial. My children benefited from the free education programme, and I personally benefited from his sponsorship for Hajj,” Haruna said.

Haruna further stated that Obi’s relationship with the northern community did not end after he left office, saying the former governor continued to identify with the community and participate in its activities.

“He still relates well with us. He comes here for our functions and sends us gifts during Salah celebrations. If there is any former governor who is close to Obi, it is Ngige, who still comes here today despite no longer being governor or seeking any position,” he said.

The Chairman of the Northern Community in Anambra State, Alhaji Gidado Sidikki, also shared his personal experience under Obi’s administration, particularly his participation in the government’s agricultural loan programme.

Sidikki said he personally received N10 million under the scheme and maintained that the process through which he accessed the funds was not influenced by ethnic considerations.

“The way they gave the loan to me was the same way they gave it to others. There was no discrimination. We are even surprised that before Obi left office, he repaid the outstanding loans on our behalf,” he said.

He also spoke about the impact of the former governor’s free education programme on his family, revealing that his son, who benefited from the initiative, is currently pursuing a PhD in China.

“I came here about 40 years ago. I had all my children here, and today I have five graduates. So, I cannot say that Anambra has not been good to me,” he said.

The northern leaders argued that their experiences and those of other members of their community were at variance with the allegations being levelled against Obi.

They maintained that the former governor’s relationship with the northern community was characterised by engagement and support rather than discrimination, pointing to specific programmes and personal experiences as evidence.

The leaders further described the allegations as politically driven, particularly as political activities ahead of the 2027 general election gather momentum.

They said members of the northern community resident in Anambra State would be mobilised to support Obi when campaigns for the 2027 election officially commence.

The community leaders also expressed optimism about Obi’s chances in the presidential election, particularly against the backdrop of a possible political partnership involving former Kano State governor, Rabiu Kwankwaso, whom they described as “our brother.”

Their position represents a strong rejection from northern community leaders in Anambra of claims that Obi’s administration was hostile to northerners, with the leaders relying largely on their personal experiences and the community’s interactions with the former governor to counter the allegations.