Business mogul and Managing Director of Lomat Global Resources Limited, Chief Izuorah Nnamdi Iloma Anichebe, popularly known as the Mayor of Afrika, has admonished Governor Chukwuma Soludo to focus on promoting his political positions and the achievements of President Bola Tinubu, who he has chosen to support in 2027, rather than constantly attacking former Anambra governor, Peter Obi.
Obi is the presidential candidate of the National Democratic Party (NDC) and a former governor of Anambra State, where Soludo is now in charge.
Anichebe, who is also from the state, made the appeal in an open letter to Soludo, following what he described as the governor’s political confrontation with Obi, as the 2027 elections looms.
Many Nigerians, especially those from the Southeast and Obi supporters, had condemned Soludo’s attacks on Obi, with some alleging that he is jealous of the popularity of the NDC candidate. Some added that he has developed “Obiphobia”.
Anichebe said Soludo had the constitutional right to support any candidate of his choice, but advised that if the governor had chosen to support Tinubu, he should devote his political energy to explaining and defending the President’s policies and achievements.
“If President Tinubu is your principal and this is the political project you have chosen, then I sincerely believe your energy should be directed towards explaining, defending and selling the achievements and vision of your principal, rather than continually trying to pull Peter Obi down,” he wrote.
According to him, Obi had established a significant national political following since the 2023 presidential election and remained a prominent figure in the 2027 political discourse.
Anichebe noted that Obi’s political relevance could not simply be dismissed through criticism, stressing that the former governor’s emergence reflected, in his view, a wider demand among some Nigerians for an alternative political direction.
“You cannot insult a political current into extinction. You cannot ridicule a political movement into disappearing,” he said.
He pointed out that continued exchanges between Soludo and Obi could keep the former governor in the public consciousness rather than diminish his political relevance.
“Every time you make Peter Obi the subject of another political confrontation, you inevitably keep his name in the public consciousness,” he said.
The businessman urged Soludo to instead highlight what he considers the achievements of the Tinubu administration, particularly in the areas of infrastructure, security, investment and the economy.
“If you believe President Tinubu has performed well, tell Nigerians why. If you believe his economic policies are producing results, explain the figures. If you believe his administration has improved infrastructure, security, investment or the welfare of Nigerians, put those achievements before the people and allow them to examine them,” he said.
He also urged Soludo to make a direct case for Tinubu if his objective was to persuade people in the South-East to support the President.
“If your objective is to persuade Ndi Igbo to support President Tinubu, then make the case for President Tinubu. But continually attempting to diminish Peter Obi does not automatically strengthen the case for Tinubu,” Anichebe said.
He further advised to Soludo to concentrate on his own record as governor and his vision for Anambra State and the South-East.
“You have an enormous platform. You have the intellectual background, institutional authority and political experience to engage Nigerians on ideas, development and the future of the country.
“Your record in Anambra can be debated on its own merits. Your relationship with President Tinubu can be explained on its own merits. Your vision for the South-East can stand on its own merits. You do not need Peter Obi as the measuring instrument for everything you want to communicate,” he said.
Anichebe added that Soludo should “redirect” his political energy towards his own record, ideas and political project.
“Build your own political legacy. Defend your own record. Sell your own ideas. Campaign for your own principal. Let Peter Obi campaign for himself,” he admonished.
Mr. Soludo had yet to respond to the letter as at the time of filing this report.