Fr. Kelvin Ugwu Criticizes Soludo, Accuses Governor Soludo of Envy and Political Insecurity Over Peter Obi’s Rising Popularity

 

Tension is once again brewing in the political landscape of Anambra State, as a well-known Catholic priest, Fr. Kelvin Ugwu, has publicly lambasted Governor Charles Soludo over his recent comments targeting Peter Obi, the Labour Party's presidential candidate in Nigeria’s 2023 general election. The cleric’s statement, shared across various social media platforms, has stirred reactions and renewed debates surrounding the rivalry between the two Anambra-born politicians.

Fr. Ugwu, who refrained from directly naming the governor in his post, accused Soludo of being politically insecure and driven by ambition. According to the outspoken priest, Soludo harbors presidential aspirations and sees Peter Obi as an obstacle to his long-term plans. The priest suggested that the governor’s criticism of Obi has little to do with governance or political ideology and more to do with personal ambition and envy.

The post read in part:
“The Anambra Prof wants to be president of Nigeria, which is not a bad thing. But his professorial calculation is that Peter Obi is a threat to his ambition. For if Peter Obi ever becomes president before him, it will mean that the South East has been fully represented, and if rotational politics is anything to go by, it will take almost two decades before the South East will be considered again.”

This provocative statement came shortly after Governor Soludo threw indirect jabs at Obi regarding his promise to serve only one term if elected. Although Soludo did not mention Obi by name, many interpreted his remarks as being clearly aimed at the former Anambra governor. Soludo questioned the sincerity of such promises and implied that candidates often make lofty commitments they cannot keep.

Fr. Ugwu, however, appears unimpressed by Soludo’s remarks and the motivations behind them. He argued that Soludo’s opposition to Obi’s candidacy is rooted in fear of political irrelevance and personal comparison. According to him, Obi’s presidency would establish a performance benchmark in Anambra governance that Soludo might not comfortably meet.

The priest went on to say, “Plus the fact that Obi will always be used as a yardstick to measure how Anambra is governed. The professor does not feel good about that.” He further insinuated that Soludo’s alignment with other presidential hopefuls, such as Bola Tinubu (referred to as Bulaba) or Atiku Abubakar, is a calculated attempt to sabotage Obi’s chances.

Ugwu did not hold back in expressing his disapproval of Soludo’s conduct, lacing his post with pointed language and cultural undertones. He referred to the governor as someone lacking subtlety in his political tactics, stating, “It is just that Prof no too get sense like that. He can't even hide his jealousy and hatred.” He concluded with a metaphor, “If you look very well, Prof has kois kois, it is just that it is in the recessive gene,” suggesting that Soludo’s issues lie deeper than surface-level disagreements.

These strong words have attracted varied responses online. Supporters of Peter Obi praised the priest for “speaking truth to power,” while others criticized the tone of the message, arguing that political leaders deserve more respectful discourse, regardless of disagreements.

This is not the first time Soludo and Obi have found themselves on opposite ends of public opinion. Despite being from the same state and both having served as governors of Anambra, the relationship between the two has often appeared strained. Soludo, an economics professor and former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, has frequently questioned Obi’s economic policies and political strategies.

Observers say the continued friction could affect the unity of political interests in the South East, especially as the region pushes for greater national representation. With the 2023 elections behind and political eyes now trained on 2027 and beyond, speculation is rife over what ambitions both Obi and Soludo might still harbor.

Fr. Kelvin Ugwu, known for his blunt commentaries on social and political matters, has once again positioned himself as a vocal critic of what he perceives as political hypocrisy. While his comments may stir controversy, they also shine a light on the deep undercurrents shaping Nigeria’s political future, particularly in the southeastern region. As the dust from the last election settles, it remains to be seen how these tensions will evolve in the months ahead.