Eric Patrick
Presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 general election, Peter Obi, has defended his administration’s decision to invest in a brewery during his tenure, describing it as one of the state’s most successful economic initiatives.
Speaking in an interview with Arise News anchor Rufai Oseni on Monday, the one-time Anambra state governor recounted the difficulty of attracting investors to Anambra and establishing the brewery, which he said now serves as the state’s top revenue source.
“If I told you what I went through to get that brewery built, you wouldn’t believe it,” Obi said. “Today, it’s the biggest revenue earner for Anambra State.”
Responding to criticisms that the government’s stake in the brewery has depreciated, Obi dismissed the claims with sarcasm saying, “Thank you very much. I wish more Nigerians had invested in something that supposedly ‘went down’. That’s not smart?”
According to him, the brewery directly employs at least 500 residents and sustains over 5,000 others through its supply chain, including distributors and truck drivers.
He also questioned why similar investments in other states, such as Ogun, aren’t subject to the same scrutiny.
Obi further addressed allegations that his administration worsened poverty in Anambra, saying such views ignore international benchmarks.
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He pointed to the UNDP’s assessment, which ranked Anambra as number one in development progress by the time he left office in 2014.
“Nigeria was part of the UN’s Millennium Development Goals. When I left, Anambra was number one. It wasn’t my rating — it was the UNDP’s. I was even invited to the United Nations to speak about our achievements,” he said.
Highlighting improvements in health and education under his leadership, Obi emphasized that his focus was on results, not media coverage.
“The only thing I didn’t do well, Rufai, was media visibility. I didn’t pay journalists or promote myself,” he said.
He concluded by underlining his continued connection to the state and his simple lifestyle.
“I still live in Anambra. The only house I own is here. Come walk the streets with me — people will tell you who I am.”