₦airaland Forum

Presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 election, Peter Obi, has clarified allegations that his recent charitable donations overwhelmingly favoured the South-East region.

The clarification came through his former campaign spokesman and National Coordinator of the Obidient Movement Worldwide, Dr Yunusa Tanko, following an online debate sparked by a report from the data and artificial intelligence platform, StatisSense.

According to StatisSense, Obi spent N540m on donations between January and July 2025, with the South-East cornering the lion’s share.

The figures showed that Anambra alone received N260m, while Enugu followed with N120m, making a combined N415m for the South-East out of the N540m total.

The breakdown indicated Obi’s philanthropy extended to five geopolitical zones, with South-West excluded.

The donations were as follows: South-East: N415m, North-West: N60m, North-Central: N60m, South-South: N35m and North-East: N6m.

Major beneficiaries in the South-East included the College of Nursing Sciences, Amichi (N10m), Paul University Awka (N30m), IHM Health System, Anambra (N100m), and Christ the King College, Onitsha (N50m).

Obi’s philanthropy outside the region covered institutions such as Joseph D. Bagobiri Memorial College, Kafanchan (N20m), Kubwa Anglican Comprehensive Secondary School & Hospital, Abuja (N20m), and UNICAL Faculty of Dentistry, Cross River (N20m).

Reacting to the controversy, Tanko defended Obi, stressing that the donations were personal gestures, not political manoeuvres.

“These donations are personal, and they are on a continuous basis. He has not stopped. So don’t be surprised that eventually the donation may come from the North and supersede that of the South,” he said.

Tanko further challenged Obi’s critics to demand transparency from other political leaders.

He said: “If there’s any other candidate that have done that in his personal capacity, he should bring us his data. They should bring out their donation statistics on their own.”

He also noted that Obi’s interventions cut across regions and were not tied to any campaign.

"These are all personal donations, and we are continuing. We have not stopped. We are asking them to bring their donation that they’ve done, if there’s any,” he added

Gentledove2001:
Was he making these donations before, during, or after his time as governor of Anambra State? Or did all of this suddenly begin out of his desperation to become Nigeria’s president? Why does he always go around with a camera crew during these so-called donations?

Even the Bible says you shouldn’t let your left hand know what your right hand is doing if you do, then your motive is questionable. This man lacks strategy, and his Obidient noise-makers won’t advise him properly. He keeps focusing his eye-service donations on a particular zone one that holds the least electoral value all in a bid to attract sympathy. But he forgets that elections aren’t won with emotions, they are won with strategy.

In 2027, what I want to hear from Obi, Atiku, and Tinubu is not more promises about turning Nigeria into Bangladesh in two years, but what they’ve actually done. Obi should show us the world-class hospitals and schools he built as a governor not fake donations just to look good. Mr. Desperado needs to be called out.

9jatriot:
To answer your question, more of playing to the gallery and a little doze of desperation.

I threw a challenge one time like that to hoebidients. I asked them to show us any record of Obi donating or philanthropy
1: before he became governor
2: before 2019 after he left governorship seat
3: Betwen 2019 and 2022

They have not yet returned with any previous records. You can check, all of his donations started around 2022 or later when it became clear that he wanted to contest.

I really would have had no problem with him if and when he chooses to donate, since it is his money, but it is the act of claiming to be a 'cent' that he is not that irritates me.

TimeManager:
Igbo-centric donations. His antecedents in the last election where he appointed Southeasterners as cordinators in other geopolitical zones precedes him. Hopefully he can amend his tribal prejudice going forward.

-Kiss the truth!

SECDA:
All these tribal bigots will always find ways to talk and complain.

Mention any other philanthropist from the North or SW who has the same standing with Obi and then check which region they favor more.

You will find None.

The breakdown indicated Obi’s philanthropy extended to five geopolitical zones, with South-West excluded.

The donations were as follows: South-East: N415m, North-West: N60m, North-Central: N60m, South-South: N35m and North-East: N6m.

gidgiddy:
I don't think it matters when Obi started donating to worthy causes. Even if he was doing so before he became Governor, you guys would have still said it was a political strategy to get elected

The important thing is that the institutions that need such donations appreciate and utilise the gesture. People who don't like Obi's face won't like him, no matter what says or does

TTPAAR:
Peter Obi won't win 2027 elections.... Mark this word.

I love and I usually agree with him. But not now not ever!

dynicks:
All these brouhaha cus of a man that decides to spend his legit money the way he wants.....a man not in any form of political position presently ...

What stops other politicians and philanthropists from other regions to assist people from their own states?

Cj4charles:
It is his money, anyhow he chooses to share it let it be. Nobody can tell him what to do with it

RodgersAkpafu:
APCshit are now desperados

Shame on the Statisense guy who surreptitiously released this knowing fully well it will be tribalised

Nigerians are not just ready

TimeManager:
Igbo-centric donations. His antecedents in the last election where he appointed Southeasterners as cordinators in other geopolitical zones precedes him. Hopefully he can amend his tribal prejudice going forward.

-Kiss the truth!