Former governor of Anambra State and Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate Peter Obi has rejected the decision of the management of Our Lady of Lourdes School of Nursing and Midwifery, Ihiala, Anambra State, to name a new administrative building after him.
The administrator of the college, Rev Fr Chidiebere Ughaerumba, had on Thursday, during Obi’s visit to the school, announced that the management planned to name the five-floor building after him in appreciation of his support to the institution.
Rev. Ughaerumba said the decision was to recognise Mr Obi’s continued contributions to the school’s development since his tenure as governor.
Obi, however, interrupted and publicly rejected the proposal, saying it was wrong to name any structure after him or his family.
He said, “I’m against such plans. When I was governor, every community wanted to give me a chieftaincy title, but I rejected it. Even the school where I passed through wanted to honour me with a doctorate title. I was also given a national award and I said that would be after being governor. Even local government chairmen wanted to name a street after me, but I said no.”
Obi added that he preferred to use his resources to support educational and health institutions rather than receive personal recognition.
“This week alone I have been to five schools, and I have donated between N5 million and N15 million each. I can use the money to buy a new car or throw a party, but I think it is better to use it to support you,” he said.
The former governor later presented a cheque of N15 million to the college, noting that his support for health and education institutions was part of his contribution to society.
He said he decided to visit the school after inspecting the new cathedral project of the Catholic Diocese of Nnewi, led by Bishop Jonas-Benson Okoye.
