Chinedum Elekwachi
Former Governor of Anambra State, Mr. Peter Obi on Thursday reacted to recent comments made by the Governor of Edo State, Sen. Monday Okpebholo regarding his visits to the state without prior notice.
He made the clarification during presentation of a cheque of ₦50 million to his alma mater, Christ the King College (CKC), Onitsha, for infrastructural development.
He emphasized that his visit to Benin, which he would repeat if need be, was solely to support the development of healthcare services.
The Labour Party candidate in the 2023 presidential election expressed disappointment that such an act could become politicized.
He said “I am not afraid of visiting any state in Nigeria, particularly when the purpose is to support causes that contribute to nation building, such as education, health, and poverty alleviation.
“I went to Benin to invest in a better life for the people. If they have good doctors and nurses, life will be better for them.
“What I expect the governor to do is to complement efforts aimed at improving society.”
Contributions of old boys
Obi explained that the donation to school came through collaboration with some fellow Old Boys with the goal of supporting educational development and improving learning conditions at the institution.
“The gesture was motivated by gratitude to the institution that shaped my formative years and the other Old Boys that contributed to the donation.
“This school helped form the values I and many others still hold dear today – discipline, moral grounding, and academic excellence.
“Supporting it is a way of giving back to the great alma mater.”
The former governor Obi called on fellow alumni of CKC and other schools to support their alma maters in whatever way they could.
He noted that the burden of educational development should not rest on government alone.
Archbishop of Onitsha, Most Rev. Valerian Okeke, received the donation on behalf of the school.
He commended Obi and the other Old Boys for their commitment to education and nation-building.
He offered prayers for the benefactors and urged others to emulate their example.
Senior Prefect of the school, Master Ejike Ekene, expressed gratitude to Mr. Obi, describing him as a role model and an inspiration to students.
