Why I Didn’t Build Any New Schools as Anambra Governor, Peter Obi Replies Omokri

Former Anambra State Governor and Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate in the 2023 general election, Peter Obi, has addressed recent criticism about his tenure as governor, specifically regarding the lack of new school construction during his time in office.

The controversy began when Reno Omokri, a social media influencer, questioned Obi’s administration and challenged him and his supporters to provide evidence of a single school built during Obi’s eight-year governorship in Anambra State. Omokri even offered a reward of $10,000 to anyone who could prove the existence of a new school constructed during Obi’s tenure.

In response to the criticism, Obi held a press conference in Abuja on Wednesday, April 24. He explained that his administration’s focus was on improving the quality and infrastructure of existing schools rather than building new ones from scratch. Obi highlighted that when he became governor, Anambra’s education system was ranked 26th in the nation, with many schools in a dilapidated state.

Obi stated, “I improved the quality, physical and mental well-being of the people. Schools had the basic things they needed, and the people shone like stars—that was my manifesto. Building new schools when the old ones are moribund is just like building coastal lines when internal roads are impassable.”

By the end of his tenure, Obi noted that Anambra had risen to the top of national education rankings. His administration’s approach centered on revitalizing existing schools and addressing the needs of the education system to ensure a better learning environment for students.

While Obi’s response provides context to the criticism, the debate over the merits of building new schools versus improving existing ones continues to spark discussion among political observers and social media commentators.