Northern community leaders in Anambra State have come to the defence of former Governor Peter Obi, rejecting allegations that his administration discriminated against Hausa and other northern residents during his tenure.
The leaders, who spoke separately in Awka and Onitsha, described the allegations as politically driven, insisting that their experiences during Obi’s administration did not support claims of ethnic profiling or discrimination.
According to them, northern residents benefited from several programmes introduced by the former governor, including free education, agricultural loans and support for religious activities, including sponsorship for Hajj.
The community leaders also challenged claims that Obi ordered the demolition of a mosque in the state. They explained that the incident being referenced occurred during a reprisal associated with the 2006 Sharia crisis, before Obi became governor, and therefore could not reasonably be attributed to his administration.
Some of the leaders pointed to beneficiaries within their communities who received agricultural loans and accessed free education as evidence of what they described as Obi’s inclusive governance.
They maintained that northern residents in Anambra were treated fairly during his tenure and were able to pursue their businesses and religious activities without discrimination.
The leaders consequently pledged to mobilise northern residents across Anambra State in support of Obi’s presidential ambition in the 2027 election, arguing that his record of governance should be judged on his policies and their impact rather than on politically motivated allegations.
