The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has broken his silence over the backlash surrounding his wife, Margaret Obi, after she was recently spotted carrying an expensive designer handbag.
The former Anambra State governor addressed the controversy while interacting with youths, where he responded to questions about his wife’s lifestyle and the public attention generated by the luxury bag.
Obi explained that his wife has her own business and source of income, stressing that he should not be held responsible for items she chooses to purchase with her personal money.
According to the former governor, he does not know the prices of the handbags and shoes his wife uses because she has always managed her personal affairs independently.
“My wife has her own business and her own money, so what is my business if she buys expensive items with her money? The bags and shoes my wife wears, I don’t even know how much they cost,” Obi said.
He also defended his record of managing public funds during his tenure as governor, maintaining that his priority was to ensure that his family’s personal lifestyle did not interfere with government resources.
Obi said his wife had been more sophisticated in her lifestyle before he became governor, suggesting that she had actually toned down some aspects of her lifestyle over the years.
“In fact, she is actually a bit less sophisticated now. She used to be far more sophisticated before I became governor,” he said.
The NDC candidate further argued that there was nothing wrong with his wife enjoying the proceeds of her own business, provided that her personal activities did not involve public funds.
“I’m managing public money, and as long as she lives her own life without interfering with my management of public funds, good luck to her,” he added.
Obi also recalled that he did not establish an Office of the First Lady during his tenure as governor of Anambra State.
“I didn’t even have an Office of the First Lady while I was governor,” he stated.
The former governor also spoke about his personal approach to celebrations, saying he does not celebrate his birthday but does not prevent others from celebrating theirs.
“I don’t celebrate my own birthday, but I don’t stop people from celebrating. As long as you don’t ask me to pay the birthday bills, I will even attend if you invite me,” Obi said.
His comments come amid renewed debate on social media over the lifestyle of politicians and their families, particularly the cost of luxury items reportedly used by spouses of public office holders.
