For the first time, former President Olusegun Obasanjo has publicly addressed rumors regarding his alleged Igbo paternity, dismissing the claims with amusement. Obasanjo, in a meeting with the leadership of the Ndigbo Amaka Progressive Market Association on Thursday, remarked that such insinuations “just make me laugh.”
The meeting, held in the boardroom of the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library in Abeokuta, Ogun State, saw the former President emphasize his belief in national unity. He declared that no Nigerian should be compelled to leave any part of the country, stating, “We own this country together.”
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Obasanjo’s comments were in response to past claims that his father was of Igbo descent from Anambra State—a topic he chose not to elaborate on during the meeting. Instead, he focused on the importance of national unity, recalling how the Yoruba, Igbo, and Hausa people united to fight the Nigerian Civil War for the country’s unity rather than to force any group out. “If anybody says to me that somebody should leave any place, he will be the one to leave,” Obasanjo asserted.
The former president’s meeting with the Ndigbo Amaka Progressive Market Association centered around their request for his support in establishing the Owerri Central Market in Imo State. The market, envisioned as the best of its kind in Nigeria, has been a long-standing proposal since the creation of Imo State. Obasanjo expressed his optimism that the project would finally come to fruition, praising the current interest and commitment from Imo State’s governor.
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“I am glad it is coming up again, and I hope this time we are all going to make it real. It is going to be big, the first of its kind,” Obasanjo said, adding that he is eager to lead the marketing efforts for the project.
The Ndigbo Amaka Progressive Market Association, represented by its spokesperson, Chief Emeka Emmanuel, shared their vision of the market as a hub for innovation and entrepreneurship. They appealed to Obasanjo for his assistance in securing loans for their members to purchase shops and spaces within the market, emphasizing that the project would significantly contribute to economic growth and reduce street-level trade.
The former president’s endorsement of the Owerri Central Market project and his unwavering stance on national unity reflect his ongoing commitment to fostering economic development and social cohesion across Nigeria.