There was anxiety and drama in Awka, Anambra state capital on Thursday evening when the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, and the governor of Anambra State, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, met.
Both political figures met at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church during the thanksgiving mass for Most Rev. Paulinus Ezeokafor in celebration of his 70th birthday and were seen embracing each other while exchanging pleasantries.
Soludo created a scene by quickly running to where Obi was seated to hug him, why both men exchanged pleasantries.
Meanwhile, Soludo, described the rift between him and Obi as mischievous, insisted that the former Anambra governor remained his brother, irrespective of their political differences.
Recall that Soludo wrote a piece where he dismissed Obi’s chances in next year’s election, saying he wouldn’t win.
His piece reads in part ‘History beckons and I will not be silent,’ dismissed the chances of the Labour Party candidate in the 2023 presidential poll.
The article generated reactions across the country and particularly from Obi supporters, who heavily criticised the governor.
However, Soludo, speaking during the thanksgiving mass, said he would soon be meeting Obi to iron out their differences, adding that their rift was essentially political.
He also dismissed the rumour of $28m he allegedly collected to run down the LP presidential candidate, saying he would have been a trillionaire if he was into such.
He said, “When I came in, I quickly went to where he sat and hugged him; people watched with bewilderment as if it was a drama, asking is it not the same people quarrelling?
“Let me tell you, we spoke two times just last night. We are brothers. You know I am not one of those politicians that speak from two sides of the mouth. I can’t pretend.
“There is no rift between Obi and me at a personal level. Nobody snatched each other’s wife. What appears to be the rift between us is fundamental political differences. Nothing else.
“So for those forging blackmail and all that, including the one they said I collected bribe to say what I said, I ask them to bring it so I use it to construct roads. If Soludo is into bribery, I would have been a multi-trillionaire.”
While thanking God for the life of Ezeokafor, the governor pointed out that the cleric had been of great influence on him and his government.
Meanwhile, Obi didn’t speak at the event as he left mid way into the programme.