Peter Obi Media Team Replies Claims Of Anti-North Allegations

The media office of former Anambra State Governor, Peter Obi, has dismissed allegations that he targeted Northerners during his tenure, describing the claims as false and politically motivated.

In a statement issued on 24 May 2026, spokesperson Ibrahim Umar said the allegations that Obi “repatriated” Northerners or singled out Northern traders and beggars were “entirely false” and aimed at damaging his political reputation.

The statement said Obi’s administration operated a social welfare programme designed to support vulnerable persons, including destitute individuals and unaccompanied minors from different parts of the country who were found in difficult conditions in cities such as Awka and Onitsha. It stressed that the intervention was humanitarian in nature and not targeted at any ethnic group.

The media office further stated that Obi maintained cordial relations with Northern and Muslim communities throughout his eight years as governor, adding that his administration worked to protect residents in the Onitsha Hausa community, also known as Ama Awusa, during periods of ethno-religious tension.

It also claimed that Muslim residents benefited from government support, including sponsorship for pilgrimage to Mecca, while insisting that traders and livestock merchants from Northern Nigeria operating in areas such as Amansea were not subjected to harassment.

According to the statement, members of Hausa and Fulani communities in Onitsha and Awka could confirm the claims of peaceful coexistence and fair treatment during Obi’s tenure.

The media office said the allegations were part of what it described as politically motivated efforts to weaken Obi’s relationship with Northern Nigerians and undermine his economic vision for the region.

It added that Obi has consistently advocated for the development of Northern Nigeria’s agricultural sector as part of a broader plan to shift the country from a consumption-driven economy to a production-based one.

The statement concluded that repeated false narratives would not overshadow what it described as Obi’s vision for national unity and economic transformation.