Peter Obi: Biography, Age, Wife, Children, Source of Wealth and Controversies

 

Peter Obi 

Who is Peter Obi?

Peter Obi, a Nigerian politician and businessman also known as "Okwute" (Rock), was removed from his position as governor of Anambra state in 2006 after being found guilty of corruption, but the conviction was later overturned in 2007.

Peter Gregory Obi is his full name, and he was born in the city of Onitsha, which is located in the state of Anambra, which is in the southeastern part of Nigeria.

He was born in Agulu, which is located in the Anaocha Local Government Area of the state of Anambra.

Obi has attained the rank of Papal Knight of the Order of St. Sylvester in the Catholic Church.

Peter Obi parents

At the time of publishing, there was no publicly available information regarding Mr. and Mrs. Obi, Peter Obi's parents; nonetheless, there are rumors that he was born into a large Igbo Catholic family.

Siblings

Peter Obi, the second born of the family, has four siblings consisting of two brothers and two sisters. They are as follows:

Bibiana Adani (elder sister)

Fabian Chinwuba Obi Josephat Ndibe Obi Martina Obi.

His older sister, Bibiana Adani, is running behind schedule. According to reports, she passed away in 2018 at Adani Village, Ukana in the state of Enugu from a condition that was not mentioned and was laid to rest at the residence of her husband.

According to a number of different reports, Fabian Obi, Peter's younger brother, is a reverend who has been ordained. It was in October of 2020 when he was given the position of acting rector at the Blessed Iwene Tansi Major Seminary, which is located in Onitsha.

According to reports, another of Peter Obi's younger brothers, Ndibe Obi, is currently serving as the manager of one of his businesses.

There is a lack of transparency around Martina Obi, the youngest of the Obi siblings and the only one still living.

Peter Obi age

Peter's birthday is July 19th, and he was born in 1961. At the moment, he is 60 years old, but it is anticipated that he will be 61 in July of 2022.

People who were born on the 19th of July are considered to be representatives of the zodiac sign of cancer. They always have a talent, no matter what their Zodiac Sign is, according to astrology.

Dreamers, idealists, and crusaders for a greater cause are just some of the admirable qualities that are associated with this group of people. They also possess talents that are meant to be shared with the world and have faith in the inherent kindness of other people.

Education

Christ the King College in Onitsha is where Peter Obi earned his West Africa Secondary School Certificate. He received his education there (WASC). Later, in 1980, he was accepted into the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, from which he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree in Philosophy in 1984.

Peter Obi received his education in Nigeria at the Lagos Business School, where he participated in the Chief Executive Program. Additionally, he completed two programs at the Harvard Business School in Boston, which is located in the United States (Mid to Mid Marketing).

The following are some of the other schools he had attended:

London School of Economics (Financial Mgmt/Business Policy)

Columbia Business School, New York, U.S.A. (Marketing Management)

Institute for management development, Switzerland where he also got two certificates in Senior Executive Program and Break-Through Program for CEOs.

Kellogg Graduate School of Management, U.S.A. (Advanced Executive Program)

Kellogg School of Management U.S.A. (Global Advanced Mgmt Program)

Oxford University: Said Business School, (Advanced Mgmt& Leadership Program)

Cambridge University: George Business School (Advanced Leadership Program)

Career before Politics 

Peter Obi, as was already said, is a businessman. Given that he was raised in a family of traders, it is not surprising that he began his career as a trader.

Later, he entered the corporate sector and worked for many businesses in a variety of capacities.

Some of Peter Obi’s pre-political positions include:

Former Chairman: Fidelity Bank Plc.

Former Chairman: Guardian Express Mortgage Bank, Ltd.

Former Chairman: Future Views Securities, Ltd.

Former Chairman: Paymaster Nigeria Plc.

Former Chairman: Next International (Nigeria) Ltd

Former Director: Guardian Express Bank Plc.

Former Director: Chams Nigeria Plc.

Former Director: Emerging Capital Ltd

Former Director: Card Centre Plc.

Obi’s Membership of Professional Associations/Organisations:

Member, Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG)

Member, Nigerian Chartered Institute of Bankers

Member, British Institute of Directors (IOD)

 Political career 

Obi political career came into limelight when he contested for governorship of Anambra state as the candidate of All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) political party in 2003.

Ex Governor of Anambra

Drags Ngige and INEC to a court

The Independent National Electoral Commission pronounced his opponent Chris Ngige of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) the winner (INEC). Under the administration of Muhammadu Buhari, Ngige serves as the Minister of Labor.

Peter contested Ngige's success in court, and on 15 March 2006, the Court of Appeal ruled in his favor.

Resuming office; impeached 7 months later

On 17 March 2006, he resumed office. On 2 November 2006 (after seven months in office), he was impeached by the State House of Assembly and replaced by his deputy, Virginia Etiaba, who became Nigeria's first-ever female governor.

Obi returned to court and contested the impeachment, and on February 9, 2007, the Court of Appeal in Enugu reinstated him.

After the court's verdict, Etiaba restored his authority.

contested the election of Andy Uba as governor.

After Andy Uba won the general election on May 29, 2007, Obi resigned from his position as governor. In the meantime, he challenged Uba's election in court, arguing that his four-year term, which he had won in 2003, only began counting when he took office in March 2006, and that he should be allowed to serve out the whole four years.

On the 14th of June, the Supreme Court of Nigeria ruled with him and ordered Uba to resign so that Obi could take office. Until March 2010, he was governor for the first time.

Ex Governor of Anambra

Peter Obi serving his second term in Anambra

Peter Obi was proclaimed the victor of the 2010 Anambra governorship election on February 7, 2010, after defeating former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) governor Professor Charles Soludo

Obiano also served two-term and handed over to Charles Soludo who won the gubernatorial election on 10 November, 2021.

Peter Obi officially dumps APGA on October 7, 2014 to join the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

After winning the 2015 Presidetial Election , Goodluck Jonathan appointed Peter Obi as the chairman of the Nigerian Security and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Vice Presidency

Peter Obi was named the presidential running mate of Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party on October 12, 2018.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Muhammadu Buhari won the election.

Presidential ambition

Peter Obi on March 24, 2022, declared his intention to contest the 2023 presidency on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

PDP exit

On 25 May, Peter Obi announced his resignation from the PDP and also withdraw from contesting the party’s presidential primary election.

Joins LP

Two days later, (May 27, 2022), Peter announced he is a member of Labour Party (LP) and would be aspiring for the presidency on the party’s platform.

On 30th of May, Peter Obi emerged the presidential candidate of LP after other candidates like Pat Utomi stepped down for him.

PDP convention 

ALSO READ: Why Peter Obi dumped PDP

Appointments while he was governor of Anambra state

Member of:

Federal Government Committee on Minimum Wage

Federal Government Committee on Negotiation with Labour on Subsidy

Federal Government Committee on Mass Transit

Federal Government Committee on Natural Resource

National Economic Council Committee on Power Sector Reform

National Economic Council Committee on Sharing of MDGs Funds

National Economic Council Committee on Accurate Data on Nigeria’s Oil Import and Export

Agricultural Transformation Implementation Council

Sub-Committee on Needs Analysis of Public Universities in Nigeria *National Economic Council Review Committee on the Power Sector

Peter Obi’s wife

In 1992, Peter Obi married Margaret Brownson Usen. Their union has produced two children, one boy and one girl.

The couple was rumored to be on the verge of dissolution in 2017. Margaret disproved the rumor and described it as the height of evil.

Obi has attempted as much as possible to conceal his private life from the public.

Peter Obi and his wife

Peter Obi children

Gregory Peter Oseloka Obi, who is a male and the younger of Peter Obi's two children, and Gabriella Nwamaka Frances Obi, who is a female and the older of Peter Obi's two children.

Peter Obi family and Archbishop Valerian Okeke of Onitsha Ecclesiastical Province

Peter Obi's daughter marriage

Chukwuma Okeke-Ojiudu, a successful businessman who was born and reared in Chicago, is married to his son-in-law, Nwamaka. The ceremony was performed in the month of April in 2022.

Obi's daughter is "a teacher in secondary school," according to Obi's description of her occupation.

Peter Obi’s son, Gregory is a Philosphy graduate from Bristol University, England.

Peter Obi’s son, Gregory is a Philosphy graduate from Bristol University, England.

He stated that his children "have never participated in any public life" and that his son, who will soon be 29 or 30 years old, "doesn't possess a car because he has to buy his own car, not me."

On the other hand, there are rumors that his son Gregory "drives a 2017 BMW X6 valued roughly N60 million in the UK and that he has been driving same since February 2018."

The origin of one's wealth

In the middle of the Pandora Paper scandal, Peter Obi made the following statement on an Arise TV program: "I was the sole engineer of South African Breweries." In addition to that, I was carrying Ovaltine.

"When I left the company I had been working for before, it was my brother who took over and he was the one who paid me off. This business eventually evolved into the Next Cash and Carry, which has locations in both Port Harcourt and Abuja.

Before I was appointed as a governor, I served on the boards of directors of three different banks, including one as its chairman.

Awards

The Man of the Year according to the Sun Newspaper (2007)

The Most Astute Governor in Nigeria, According to Thisday Newspaper (2009)

The Governor of the Decade for Today's Date (2020)

The Most Trustworthy Governor in Nigeria, According to Champion Newspaper (2009)

The West African Governor of the Year was Awarded the ICT Development Award (2010)

Zik Leadership Prize (2011)

The South-East Nigerian Governor with the Best Immunization Performance, as Judged by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (2012)

The Leadership and Good Governance Award presented by the Ezeife Leadership Foundation (2012)

The Methodist Church of Nigeria's Golden Award on Prudence (2012), as well as the Man of the Year award from Business Hallmark Newspaper (2012)

Winner of the Silverbird's Man of the Year Award (2013)

The award for setting an Exceptional Example in Leadership and Governance presented by The Voice Newspaper (2014)

The Most Outstanding Igbo Man of the Decade, as Selected by Champion Newspaper (2014)

Golden Merit Award presented by the Nigerian Library Association (2014)

Order of the Pontifical Equestrian Saint Sylvester Pope and Martyr (2014)

The Golden Jubilee Award presented by the Catholic Diocese of Onitsha (2015)

Achievements

He was the first candidate for governor in Nigeria's history to take a legal case to its natural conclusion in an attempt to win back the governorship election that was taken away from him. He was victorious in the courts and was able to recover his mandate.

He was the first Governor in Nigeria to legally dispute his unjustified impeachment, and the courts ultimately ruled in his favor and reinstalled him.

When the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) permitted elections to take place in Anambra State while he was still serving as governor, he was the first governor in Nigeria to seek an interpretation of the tenures of governors. The election that had already taken place was canceled, and he was given the opportunity to finish serving his term.

He was the first Governor to serve a second term in both the new and old Anambra State, which is almost 40 years after the creation of the state. This made him the first person to hold the position in both of Anambra's iterations.

He was the first Governor to be appointed to the position of Special Adviser to the President while still serving in that capacity.

In his capacity as Governor, he made history by being the first person ever to be assigned to the Presidential Economic Management Team.

In 2011, while he was still serving as Governor, he was recognized with a National Award, making him one of the first Governors to receive such an honor.

In spite of the fact that he was the only Governor whose political party was in office in only one state, he was voted Vice-Chairman of the Nigeria Governors Forum on two separate occasions.

Even though he was the only non-PDP Governor in the South-East (which is made up of 5 States), the other 4 PDP Governors elected him as their Chairman for 8 years rather than the usual one year. This is because the South-East is made up of 5 States.

Principal Accomplishments While Serving as Governor of the State of Anambra

1. Anambra was the first state in Sub-Saharan Africa to launch a savings program for sub-national governments, the first of its kind in the region. At a period when many other governors were leaving enormous debts in their wake, I made sure to leave behind investments and local and international currency totaling the equivalent of $500 million US Dollars, including $156 million in bonds denominated in US dollars.

2. This year marked the first time in Anambra State's history that ambassadors and high commissioners from prominent countries such as the United States, Britain, Russia, the European Union, South Africa, Belgium, Israel, the Netherlands, and Canada visited the state. Before he took office, the Diplomatic Corps and other international development partners had virtually written off the state of Anambra as untrustworthy and blacklisted it.

3. Development partners like the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), the World Bank, the Department for International Development (DFID), and other organizations that had not been present in Anambra State before began working with the state. Anambra has been ranked as one of the top states for development collaboration and commitment to reforms that promote good governance on a consistent basis.

4. The Millennium Development Goals Office (OSSAP-MDGs) and the United Nations Development Programme recognized him as the Best Governor for his work in the implementation of their programs in Nigeria.

5. The Nigerian Debt Management Office (DMO) ranked Anambra as the state in Nigeria with the lowest amount of outstanding debt. In spite of the fact that achievements were documented that were both apparent and measurable in a variety of fields, the State did not borrow money or raise bonds for her many projects while he was in charge.

6. The Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria ranked Anambra State as the state in the country with the highest level of financial stability.

7. The State moved from the 24th position out of 36 States to the Number One position in National Examination Council (NECO) and West African Examination Council (WAEC) examinations for three consecutive years after the ground-breaking return of schools to their original owners – Voluntary Agencies (Churches) on 1st January 2009, and subsequent partnership with the Agencies in Education. As a result of this, the World Bank decided to commission a study on this revolutionary partnership and phenomenal accomplishment. This study would be led by the renowned Professor Paul Collier of Oxford University.

8. In addition, the state entered into a strategic partnership with the churches in the field of healthcare provision. Because of the services provided by health institutions that are owned by Voluntary Agencies, this symbiotic relationship resulted in a tremendous boost to health care. At the same time, the State restored grants to the agencies and made available to them more than 50 million Dollars in various types of support.

9. Through a collaborative effort with the Church in the field of healthcare, his government provided funding for the following transformations:

a: Iyienu Hospital, Ogidi

b: The Hospital of Our Lady of Lourdes in Ihiala.

c: The Saint Charles Borromeo Hospital located in Onitsha

Holy Rosary Hospital, located in Waterside, Onitsha (d)

e: St. Joseph Hospital, Adazi-Nnukwu.

When Peter Obi was governor of Anambra, how much wealth did he leave behind?

During his appearance on "The candidate," a presidential program on NTA in 2019, Peter Obi stated, "I left administration in this country, leaving Anambra State with investments in cash of N75 billion." On the day that I resigned from my position as governor of Anambra State, the state had $56 million (N12 billion) in Fidelity Bank, $50 million (N12 billion) in Diamond Bank, and $50 million (N12 billion) in Access Bank. Show me one instance in the history of this country in which someone has abandoned ten percent of that.

Controversies

In October of 2021, his name appeared as a suspect in the Pandora Papers, which was an investigation into tax evasion that was carried out by more than 600 journalists in 117 different nations. Read his REACTION.

Peter Obi’s phone number

Peter Obi’s phone number is not publicly available but he can be reached via any of his social media accounts below:

Twitter: @PeterObi

Facebook: @PeterObiGregory

Disclaimer

The information in this article was curated from online sources. All details cannot be independently verified by bigbrothergisthub or its editorial team.