Former Anambra State Governor and presidential candidate of the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has dismissed reports of a strained relationship between him and the current governor of the state, Chukwuma Soludo.
Obi said his relationship with Soludo remains cordial despite the recent disagreement over claims concerning the debt profile of Anambra State.
Naija News reports that Obi made this known on Friday while speaking to members of the Nigerian Guild of Editors.
The former governor explained that his relationship with Soludo is much closer than recent public exchanges may suggest.
According to Obi, he and his wife are godparents to some of Soludo’s children, stressing that there is no personal dispute between them.
He said: “My wife and I are godparents to Soludo’s children. We are that close. I can tell you that, so we are not quarrelling and we will never quarrel.
“If I see him any day, I will hug him. If they say anything, I will answer them and, like I said yesterday, I did not leave debt in Anambra State.
“Thank God Otti confirmed this morning during an interview on Arise TV. I left $150 million in savings. No other governor has left dollars. If you see one, tell me.”
The comments come amid an ongoing dispute over the financial obligations allegedly linked to projects undertaken during Obi’s tenure as governor.
The Anambra State Government has said external facilities associated with projects during Obi’s administration had a combined contracted value of about $123.77 million, with $92.35 million reportedly outstanding as of June 30, 2026, based on figures attributed to the Debt Management Office (DMO).
Obi, however, has rejected the characterization of the facilities as debts he personally left behind, insisting that he did not approach any financial institution to borrow money or issue bonds on behalf of Anambra State during his eight years in office.
He has also maintained that more than $150 million remained in state funds when he left office in March 2014. In a separate interview with Arise News, Obi said the funds included investments and foreign currency holdings supported by documents and bank statements.
The former governor’s latest comments therefore separate the financial dispute from his personal relationship with Soludo, whom he described as a close associate.
Obi has previously said he has no disagreement with Soludo and does not intend to seek the governorship of any state again.