How I Rejected a ₦120m House Gift and Built Classrooms Instead – Peter Obi

Peter Obi, former Anambra State governor and 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, has revealed that he once turned down a ₦120 million house gift offered to him on his 50th birthday, choosing instead to direct the funds toward building classrooms in his home state.

In a statement on Sunday marking his 64th birthday on July 19, Obi thanked Nigerians for their goodwill but maintained his longstanding principle of rejecting personal celebrations in favour of public service.

“I recall vividly when I turned 50 during my time as governor. One institution offered to build me a house in the village. When I asked for the cost, they said ₦120 million. I requested that the funds be used instead to build classrooms in three institutions across Agulu, Ekwulobia and Abatete. They obliged—and the impact was far-reaching,” he said.

He also disclosed that another group planned a ₦20 million birthday party for him, but he declined and encouraged them to use the funds for education. The group later donated 200 desktop computers, which were distributed to schools across Anambra.

Obi said he spent his most recent birthday in Rome, praying for Nigeria and reflecting on the country’s leadership challenges. He emphasized that the redirection of celebratory funds toward meaningful causes has been a consistent practice for him over the years.

“In a similar spirit, an organisation that intended to celebrate me ended up donating buses to institutions in need, including the legendary Old Rangers Association,” he added. “The scale of suffering and deprivation among our people makes the idea of personal merriment difficult to contemplate.”

He urged those wishing to celebrate him to support struggling institutions, particularly in health and education. “May we all find strength and grace to keep striving for a more just, compassionate, and equitable society,” Obi said.

Known for his austere lifestyle, Obi recently shared that he lives without domestic staff and personally serves guests at home. In 2017, he stated that he owns just one wristwatch—used for 17 years—and two pairs of black shoes.