Soludo vs. Peter Obi: Who Is Being Clever By Half-By Law Mefor

The political friction between the incumbent Governor of Anambra State, Prof. Chukwuma Charles Soludo, CFR, and former Governor Mr. Peter Obi, has been laid bare, with the State’s Commissioner for Information, Law Mefor, asserting that Obi is the one provoking the current State Chief Executive. 

Mefor, quoting an Igbo proverb, warns that Obi is "fetching ant-infested firewood" and inviting a tougher response from a governor who "hardly starts a fight" but "takes no prisoners either."

Mefor argues that as a former governor, Peter Obi now needs Soludo more than the incumbent needs him, especially given Soludo’s robust mandate and popularity in Anambra State.

He reminded readers that Governor Soludo won his recent re-election by 73%, securing victory in 21 out of 21 local government areas a feat Obi never achieved. Furthermore, Mefor claims the people of Anambra massively endorsed Soludo before the election and raised billions of naira for his campaign, a first in the state’s history.

The Commissioner stated that Soludo demonstrated significant goodwill towards Obi:

 Soludo granted Peter Obi permission to use the Anambra State Government House to announce his presidential ambition.

 Soludo offered Obi the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) platform to launch his presidential quest.

However, Mefor alleged that Soludo received a "dastardly coup plot in civilian garb" in return. He claimed that after Obi’s run as the Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate in 2023, the party attempted to unseat Soludo by projecting a majority takeover of the Anambra State House of Assembly and an alliance with the PDP.

Mefor warned that no amount of political maneuvers from Obi’s camp can "whitewash Obi’s underhanded plots against Soludo."

Mefor forcefully challenged Obi's perceived political superiority by detailing Soludo’s impressive academic and professional background:

 Soludo served as the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and was "lionised as the best Central Bank Governor in Africa and beyond," winning international awards back-to-back.

 Soludo holds the national honour of CFR (Commander of the Federal Republic), which is the 3rd highest national honour, while Obi holds a lower honour (CON).

"Those who say Soludo envies Peter Obi should know that they're not in the same league. As they say in popular parlance, 'Shoe get size!'" Mefor asserted.

Mefor also pointed to the last state election to prove who truly commands loyalty on the ground. Despite Peter Obi’s public plea and even a video urging his people in Agulu to vote for the Labour Party and shun Soludo, the former governor was comprehensively rejected:

Obi lost all four wards in his hometown of Agulu to APGA and Governor Soludo.

Concluding his piece, the Commissioner urged Obi to emulate other former Anambra State governors, such such as Chief Willie Obiano and Dr. Chris Ngige, in their conduct toward the incumbent, warning that if the "provocation continues, then the real comparison becomes inevitable, and all gloves will be removed."