Press release
H.E. Mr. Peter Obi paid me a visit yesterday morning at my residence in Abuja. I was very glad to receive him. We discussed the state of the nation and his aspiration to lead our country from 2023.
I have always enjoyed a warm fraternal relationship with “Okwute”. We collaborated closely when he was Governor of Anambra State and I, also an Anambra indigene, was Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria. I recall his keen interest in education and our close coordination when, as CBN DepGov, I influenced a corporate social responsibility investment of N1 billion by the Bank in building infrastructure for Anambra State University in Igbariam (Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University).
I also recall H.E. PO’s ’s invitation to me to deliver the 6th Edition of the Anambra State Distinguished Public Service Lecture in 2011 on the subject of Nigeria’s banking reforms , his conferment on me of the Anambra State Government’s Special Award for Excellence, and our collaboration as colleagues in Nigeria’s Economic Management Team (EMT) under then President Goodluck Jonathan.
As someone who has been a leading voice for our youth and a Third Force approach to Nigeria’s democracy, I believe PO’s candidacy is a welcome development.
