Senator representing Anambra Central, Chief Victor Umeh, has recalled his early political relationship with Peter Obi, describing him as a disciplined and careful individual during the formative years of their political movement.…....
Speaking during an interview on Symfoni TV, Umeh recounted how Obi would regularly travel from Lagos to Enugu in the early 2000s so they could jointly visit Anambra State to meet stakeholders and mobilise political support.
“When I told you how we started in 2001, Peter Obi would come from Lagos to meet me in Enugu so we could go to Anambra because I lived in Enugu, to meet people, stakeholders, and all that. He would come and stay in the room while I observed him. Peter Obi would open his suitcase, and I would see 1.5 million naira in mint notes inside it. He would close his bag, then we would go to Anambra and move around talking to people. When we returned on the day he was to go back, I would still be looking at him. He would pack that bag again, and I would see those bundles of money still inside the bag. He wouldn’t spend it.
He said the experience left a lasting impression on him, noting that Obi displayed a cautious attitude toward spending even during politically demanding periods, while adding that their travels across Anambra at the time were focused on consultations with community leaders, stakeholders, and political supporters as they worked to build a strong political structure in the state.
According to Umeh, the relationship and experiences they shared in those years contributed significantly to the political journey that later shaped Anambra State’s leadership and political landscape.
