Anambra State First Lady, Dr Nonye Soludo, has denied former governor Peter Obi’s claim that he and his wife are godparents to the children of Governor Chukwuma Soludo.
Mrs Soludo said Obi was not the godfather of any of her children, describing the claim as false and clarifying the actual godparent relationship between the two families.
The clarification followed the circulation of a video in which Obi said he and his wife, Margaret, were godparents to Soludo’s children.
In a statement issued by her Media Assistant, Dan Ezeigwe, the First Lady said the family had received several calls and enquiries after Obi’s remarks, making it necessary to correct the impression created by the video.
“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.
“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.
“The relationship between the two families is cordial and there is no need to misrepresent it in any manner.”
Mrs Soludo further explained that the godparent roles between the families do not involve Obi serving as godfather to any of her children.
“We hereby state clearly that the claim, as presented, is false. For the avoidance of doubt, Mr. Peter Obi is not a godfather to any of the children of Professor Chukwuma and Dr. Nonye Soludo,” she said.
She disclosed that she is the confirmation godmother to Obi’s daughter, while Obi’s wife, Margaret, serves as the baptismal godmother to one of the Soludos’ daughters.
“The facts concerning the godparent relationship between the two families are as follows; 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. “Neither Mr. Obi nor Professor Soludo has served as a godparent to the other’s children,” she added.
Obi made the disputed remarks on Friday while speaking to the Nigerian Guild of Editors in Enugu, where he also sought to dismiss suggestions that he had a personal disagreement with Soludo.
The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate for the 2027 election described Soludo as his “respected elder brother” and maintained that their political differences had not affected their personal relationship.
The clarification comes against the backdrop of renewed disagreements between Obi and Soludo, including a recent dispute over the financial obligations inherited by successive Anambra administrations. Obi has rejected claims that his administration left debts for subsequent governments.
