…He got my support because of his antecedents and capacity
KUNLE OLUTAYO
In a recent interview on Arise Television, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie addressed the criticisms she has been facing following her letter to President Joe Biden of the United States, and revealed why she supported Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s Presidential candidate for the 2023 election.
Chimamanda clarified that her support for Obi was not because they are both from the same tribe, as many people assumed, but rather based on his antecedents and her faith in his ability.
Hear her: “I did not support Peter Obi because he’s Igbo as I am. I supported him because of two things. My support for Peter Obi is rooted in his antecedents and also, my faith in his ability. The idea of ethnicity politicised by a political party is a way of deflecting, and quite unfortunate.”
She went on to explain that the idea of ethnicity being politicised by a political party is regrettable and only serves as a means of deflecting from the real issues. Chimamanda’s admiration for Peter Obi stemmed from when he visited her parents after hearing that her father was the first Statistics professor in Nigeria and her mother had retired as the first female Registrar of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka.
This visit impressed her as it showed his value for education, and she continued to follow his career closely, culminating in her support for him during his time as Anambra State Governor.
