Former Governor of Anambra State and Labour Party presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi, has said the reason some critics claim he underperformed in office is simply because he refused to pay for publicity or media coverage during his tenure.
Speaking in a recent interview on Arise TV’s Morning Show with Rufai Oseni, Obi stated that unlike many politicians who spend public funds promoting themselves, he deliberately avoided media fanfare due to his principled stand on the responsible use of public resources.
“The only reason I didn’t do well – I wasn’t in the media. I wasn’t going about paying media people, advertising myself and everything. Maybe because I have a little bit of concern about giving people money, because it was public money—that’s all,” Obi said.
He also noted that his frugality and insistence on transparency often drew criticism, particularly from those who expected financial incentives.
Addressing perceptions about his personal wealth and lifestyle, Obi said the only house he owns is located in Anambra State.
“The only place I have a house in my name, owned by me, is in Anambra State. I’m inviting you any day to Anambra State. Let’s walk the streets and people will tell you who is this man,” he added.
Highlighting his record with international donor agencies, Obi said he was known for always fulfilling counterpart funding obligations, a practice that gained him credibility in development circles.
“Go and ask all the donor agencies who was the first to pay his counterpart funding. Ask everybody,” he challenged.
