The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has addressed the controversy surrounding an alleged N250 million Hermès handbag reportedly carried by his wife, Margaret.
Obi spoke during an interview in Washington, DC, United States, where he explained that his wife runs her own business and has independent financial resources.
The luxury handbag had recently generated public debate, with some questioning whether it was consistent with Obi’s reputation for promoting prudence and financial discipline.
Responding to the issue, the former Anambra State governor said his wife was actually more sophisticated in the past than she is now.
Obi stressed that he has no concerns about how his wife spends her personal income, as long as her lifestyle does not conflict with his approach to managing public resources.
He also recalled that he did not establish an Office of the First Lady during his tenure as Anambra State governor. Obi added that although he does not personally celebrate his birthday, he does not prevent others from celebrating him.
“My wife has her own business and her own money, so what is my business if she buys expensive items with her money?
“The bags and shoes my wife wears, I don’t even know how much they cost. In fact, she is actually a bit less sophisticated now,” Obi said.
