Okorie Accuses Gov Soludo of Vendetta Against Peter Obi

The National Chairman, Igbo Agenda Dialogue (IAD), Chief Chekwas Okorie, has accused Anambra State Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, of pursuing a personal vendetta against former governor of the state and 2027 presidential candidate of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Mr. Peter Obi.

Okorie, in an Independence Day statement, said he was disappointed by what he described as Soludo’s “vicious and vile vendetta” against Obi, alleging that the governor had used his support for President Bola Tinubu as a platform to attack the former Anambra governor.

According to him, Obi had continued to extend courtesies and respect to Soludo despite what he described as the governor’s repeated criticisms of him.

Okorie traced the alleged disagreement between the two politicians to the 2009 Anambra governorship election, when Soludo contested against Obi, who was seeking re-election.

He claimed that Obi’s victory over Soludo in the election was the first source of the governor’s alleged grievance against his predecessor.

The Igbo leader further alleged that Soludo’s disqualification from the 2013 APGA governorship primary contributed to the strained relationship, claiming that Soludo believed Obi was involved in the circumstances surrounding his disqualification.

He also cited the 2022 political developments involving former APGA National Chairman, Chief Victor Umeh, who later contested the Anambra Central senatorial election on the Labour Party platform and won with Obi’s support.

“These three ‘offenses’ are the real reasons Prof. Chukwuma Soludo swore to bring down Mr. Peter Obi by any means possible,” Okorie alleged.

He recalled Soludo’s widely circulated article, “History Beckons and I Will Not Remain Silent,” published ahead of the 2023 presidential election, describing it as the beginning of what he termed the governor’s attacks against Obi.

Okorie also dismissed Soludo’s support for President Tinubu ahead of the 2027 election as being motivated solely by political considerations, alleging that it had been used to pursue his opposition to Obi.

He urged Soludo to focus on the challenges confronting Anambra State rather than continuing his criticism of Obi.

“As a professor of development economics, former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, and the Executive Governor of Anambra State, there are several issues challenging the people of Anambra State that are sufficient to keep Prof. Soludo busy,” he said.

Okorie further described the Obi/Kwankwaso ticket as “the most formidable combination” in a Nigerian presidential election since the Second Republic. He also credited Obi and Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso with contributing significantly to the political mobilisation of Nigerian youths.

He warned Soludo to be mindful of his legacy and “the verdict of history.”