The media office of Peter Obi has dismissed renewed allegations claiming he targeted or expelled Northerners during his tenure as governor of Anambra State, describing the accusations as false, misleading and politically motivated.
In a statement released on Saturday, spokesperson for the Peter Obi Media Reach, Ibrahim Umar, said narratives suggesting that Obi “repatriated” Northerners from Anambra were deliberate distortions of events that occurred during the former governor’s administration.
According to the statement, Obi’s government only implemented a social welfare and rehabilitation initiative aimed at assisting vulnerable persons, including destitute individuals and abandoned minors found in different parts of the state.
The media office stressed that the programme was never designed to target any ethnic or regional group, insisting that no anti-Northern policy existed throughout Obi’s eight years in office.
It explained that the intervention focused on addressing the growing number of homeless and vulnerable persons in urban centres such as Awka and Onitsha, rather than removing Northerners from the state.
The statement also maintained that Obi enjoyed cordial relations with Northern and Muslim communities living in Anambra during his administration.
According to the media office, the former governor played active roles in maintaining peace and preventing reprisals against Northerners during periods of ethno-religious unrest in other parts of Nigeria.
It specifically referenced the Hausa community in Onitsha, popularly known as Ama Awusa, stating that Obi ensured residents in the area were protected from attacks and harassment.
The statement further claimed that the former governor supported Muslim communities in the state by sponsoring pilgrimages to Mecca and extending government-backed welfare support to them alongside Christian groups.
It added that Northern traders and cattle dealers operating in locations such as Amansea market carried out their businesses freely without intimidation or interference from the state government.
Obi’s media team accused political opponents of repeatedly reviving the allegations as part of efforts to damage his relationship with Northern Nigerians ahead of future political contests.
The statement argued that critics were uncomfortable with Obi’s economic message and his consistent advocacy for the development of Northern Nigeria’s agricultural potential.
According to the media office, Obi has repeatedly promoted the idea that the North possesses the land and resources needed to transform Nigeria from a consumption-driven economy into a production-based one through agriculture and food production.
The statement insisted that the allegations against the former governor would not stand scrutiny, adding that residents, traders and community leaders in Anambra could verify Obi’s relationship with Northern communities during his time in office.
The statement was signed by Ibrahim Umar on behalf of the Peter Obi Media Reach on May 24, 2026.
