‘Obi never discriminated against us’ — Anambra Northern leaders reject claims of profiling, Mosque demolition

Hausa and northern community leaders in Anambra State have dismissed claims that former Governor Peter Obi profiled northerners during his tenure by compelling them to obtain identity cards to remain in the state.

The leaders also denied allegations that Obi ordered the demolition of a mosque belonging to the Hausa community, describing both claims as false and politically motivated.

Speaking to journalists in Awka and Onitsha, the leaders said they enjoyed a cordial relationship with Obi during his tenure and benefited from several of his government’s programmes, including free education, agricultural loans and sponsorship for the annual Hajj pilgrimage.

Those who spoke included the Secretary of the Hausa Community in Onitsha and Secretary of the Northern Community in Anambra and Delta states, Mahmud Ibrahim; the traditional ruler of the Hausa community in Awka, Alhaji Garba Haruna; and the Chairman of the Northern Community in Anambra State, Alhaji Gidado Sidikki.

Ibrahim said the relationship between the northern community and Obi remained cordial, insisting that the former governor did not demolish their mosque.

“Our relationship with Mr Peter Obi during his tenure as governor and even now is cordial. We want to say that the rumours that he demolished our mosque while he was governor is untrue,” Ibrahim said.

He explained that the mosque in question had been demolished before Obi assumed office in March 2006, following a reprisal linked to the Sharia crisis.

“The mosque was demolished during a reprisal on us as a result of the Sharia crisis in February 2006 and Obi became governor in March of the same year.

“As a matter of fact, it was even Obi that came in then and visited us at the Army Barracks where we were staying as refugees and later escorted us back to the mosque and also donated money for the rebuilding of the mosque,” he added.

On the alleged compulsory identity cards, Ibrahim said the northern community itself initiated the issuance of identity cards to its members for identification purposes.

“As for identity cards, I want to say that it was us, northern community in Anambra State that came together and decided that we would issue identity cards to all our brothers for identification,” he said.

He explained that the Anambra State Identification Number System identity card was not targeted at northerners, stressing that it applied to all residents of the state.

“As for the ANIDS identity card, that one was for everybody and the governor and his commissioners and everyone in Anambra State had their own,” Ibrahim said.

‘My children benefited from Obi’s free education’

Haruna, the traditional ruler of the Hausa community in Awka, also dismissed allegations of discrimination against northerners during Obi’s administration.

He said he neither witnessed nor heard of any policy that created discrimination between indigenes and non-indigenes.

“Our relationship since then and even now remains cordial. My children benefited from the free education and I want to tell you that I personally benefited from his sponsorship for Hajj,” Haruna said.

He added that Obi continued to maintain a relationship with the community after leaving office.

“He comes here for our functions, he sends us gifts during Salah celebration,” he said.

‘I received N10m agric loan’

Sidikki, the Chairman of the Northern Community in Anambra State, said he was also a beneficiary of an agricultural loan provided under Obi’s administration.

According to him, he received N10 million at the time, which he estimated would be worth about N100 million in today’s economy.

“The way they gave to me was the way they gave everybody. There was no discrimination and that was how everyone got,” Sidikki said.

He also claimed that Obi subsequently paid the loan on behalf of the beneficiaries before leaving office.

“We are surprised that even before he left as governor, he paid back the loan on our behalf,” he said.

Sidikki added that his son benefited from Obi’s free education programme and later pursued doctoral studies in China.

“My son was also a beneficiary of Peter Obi’s free education and the boy is in China doing his PhD today,” he said.

The community leader, who said he had lived in Anambra for about 40 years and raised his children in the state, added that five of his children were graduates.

“I cannot say that Anambra is not good to me,” he said.

The northern community leaders described the allegations against Obi as politically motivated and targeted at damaging his reputation ahead of the 2027 general elections.

They pledged to mobilise northerners residing in Anambra State to support Obi when political campaigns commence.

The leaders also expressed optimism about Obi’s chances in the 2027 presidential election, particularly with Rabiu Kwankwaso expected to play a role in the political arrangement.

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