Presidential Candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Party (NDC), Peter Obi said on Friday that there was no quarrel between him and the Governor of Anambra State, Charles Soludo, insisting however that the rift over finances of the state during his administration should be settled with available records.

Obi who spoke at the 22nd All Nigeria Editors Conference in Enugu, also called for issue-based campaigns, free and credible elections and greater respect for democratic principles ahead of the 2027 general elections.

He also charged the media practitioners top continue to interrogate the country’s leadership ls at the federal and state levels inorder to get the best for the country.

Addressing the gathering, Obi stated that his relationship with Soludo was cordial, stressing there was no personal disagreement between them.

“There is no issue between me and Soludo. Soludo and I are close. He is the governor, he is my governor…if you watch the same interview, they say, “Oh, what is between you and Soludo? Whether you’re owing or not owing.” I said, Soludo is my respected elder brother. Any day, anytime! People might not know, I and my wife are godparents to Soludo’s children. Yes, we’re that close! So we’re not quarrelling! And we will never quarrel! If I see him any day, me and him will hug and everything”, he said

He stressed that political differences should not be allowed to degenerate into personal hostility, adding that public officials should respect the offices occupied by their political opponents.

Obi also revisited the controversy over the finances he left behind when he was governor of Anambra State, maintaining that his administration left substantial savings and that the state’s financial position should be assessed through verifiable records.

He urged Nigerians to examine the records of political candidates and demand explanations on their past actions, qualifications and policy proposals rather than allowing political contests to be reduced to personal attacks.
According to him, politicians seeking public office should be prepared to account for their records and address allegations against them where evidence exists.

“If any of us have done something wrong, come out and tell us, so that the children can learn. You can guide us. If anybody steps out of it and goes into name-calling, or anything, you say, “No, no, no, no! That’s not the issue. You shouldn’t go there.” That you ensure that we have free, fair, and credible election. If anybody stops anybody from campaigning, you say, “No”, he added

Obi also recalled an episode from his tenure as governor when former Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Fashola, visited Anambra to campaign for his political opponent, Chris Ngige.

He said he provided Fashola with his official convoy and accommodation and accompanied Obasanjo during his campaign in the state, arguing that political differences should not prevent politicians from maintaining cordial relationships.

“If you listened to me yesterday, I was in an interview. When I was talking about people, not allowing people to go into states, I gave example, and the examples that I gave are people who are alive. I said, in my second tenure, Fashola came to Anambra State to campaign for Ngige who was in ACN. It was me who gave Fashola my convoy. And because I don’t have two convoys, I didn’t go out of my office that day. I gave him everything, and stayed back in my office. He even said to me, “Where are we going to meet?” I said, “Unless you drive past my office, ’cause I don’t have two sets of cars. So, that’s why, the one you have is the only one I have. So, as you’re using it, I’m in one place.” Fashola is still there. You can go and ask him.

“Obasanjo came to campaign for Andy Uba, I followed him. Everybody who is in Anambra was there. Some of you were there. He raised Andy Uba’s hand and said, “He’s the one, he’s incoming, I’m the outgoing.” No problem, and I’m contesting the same seat—we didn’t quarrel.

“Orji Uzor Kalu came for Uche Ekwunife, we did not quarrel, I gave them lunch! When they finished, he said, “Uche will take over from me,” no quarrel. It is the people!

“So we need that conducive environment to campaign as a country, to make it work.  I didn’t do it calling any of their name. I have no reason to do that. They are governors, they need peace, they need time. Being governor… former Governor Oshoba will tell you, it’s not an easy thing. I have been there.

“So, I cannot abuse any governor. I cannot abuse anybody in government. I don’t need to abuse people even in federal government. I’ve never abused anybody. Who has seen me calling President Tinubu’s name? Never! I will not do that. He’s the President of the country, he has all my respect.

“But I can argue on other issues, whether you’re doing well, or you’re not doing the right thing. That is allowed. We must, because the leader… the character and behavior of the leader exemplifies the value of the society. And the leader must live it”.

He said it was time for media practitioners  to get involved. “Question us based on our background. Question us based on what we say. Question us for our qualification and everything. It’s not enough for anybody to say, “I’m this and this.”

He insisted that he did not leave debts as governor in Anambra State, stressing that he left $150 million in savings and that no other governor had left dollars in state purse

” The day I came in, I explained it to them, what I met was $18 million debt. When I left, it was $30 million. I left $150 million.

So even if you say all the money they said Anambra is owing, $120 million, and it was created by me, which is wrong public accounting—I said it yesterday—the money I left was giving Anambra State $10 million every year. So if you have been paying it 10 million, you would have finished paying it now, and the capital will still be remaining.
“If they decide to keep it without touching it, as at today, that money would have been $360-something million. Out of which, if they take £130 and pay, they have £230 to play with. So, it’s a case of a father who allowed his children to inherit N100 million, and they’re saying he’s owing debt. When they should have just paid it, and take their change, and be celebrating the man for making them rich”.

Turning to the Editors, he said: “Don’t think that we know everything. Don’t think that we’re everything, Please, we have no other nation except this one.  If anything goes wrong in this country, please, it will consume all of you.

Obi also spoke on healthcare, lamenting the condition of primary healthcare facilities in rural communities and arguing that public resources should be prioritised for sectors that directly affect citizens.

He criticised what he described as disproportionate spending on healthcare for government officials compared with funding for major public hospitals, recalling his criticism of the N15 billion allocation for the National Assembly Clinic in the 2024 budget.

He said scarce public resources should instead be directed towards healthcare, education, security and productive sectors.

Obi further urged young Nigerians to participate actively in elections and hold political leaders accountable, stressing that politicians should not be treated as infallible.

“We have no other nation except this one,” he said, urging Nigerians to protect democratic institutions and demand good governance.

In a lecture, the former Managing Director of The Guardian Newspaper, Mr Martins Oloja, asked Editors to strengthen social media desks to enhance its influence on the society.

In a lecture titled, “Reporting terrorism without becoming a tool for terrorist”, stressing that terrorists need three things from media including fear, fame and funding.

On the other hand, he said that the media needs clocks, access and scoops, adding that the intersection is where journalists become tools.

To avoid being a tool for terrorists, he identified ten areas including never publish unverified body counts or claims, to deny them spectacle, avoid humanising victims, depersonalise perpetrators, avoid naming the crimes, context over speed, no payment, no negotiation, avoid breaking it among others.

He said that in a society where press freedom is for sale,”ethics are the only currenxy that doesn’t devalue”.
He added, “Terrorists want you to spread fear. Politicians want you to spread propaganda.Your job is to spread facts,with context and humanity.That is how you report terrorism without becoming its tool.”