Don’t Wish Me Happy Birthday On The Pages Of Newspapers – Peter Obi

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Ex Anambra State Governor, Peter Obi, has appealed to his friends and well-wishers not to congratulate him in the media as he turns 53 on Saturday.  He made the appeal at the traditional marriage ceremony of Mr. Obinna Anyaegbu, son of the chairman of  Chisco Motors, Chief Chidi Anyaegbu at Amichi.

Obi, who was accompanied to the ceremony by two of his former commissioners, Prof. Stella Okunna and Mr. Patrick Obi as well as Chief Okey Ezibe,  reasoned that the present condition of Nigeria  called for sacrifice by all, rather than engaging in what he called, “epicurean indulgence,”  under the pretence of celebrating birthdays or  other unnecessary  occasions.

“When I look around, I notice that Nigerians celebrate for wrong reasons. As the governor of Anambra State, I celebrated excellence, but not birthdays and related events that do not add value to our lives. Today, when you look around, you see Nigerians going to India for medicals, but if you relate to the people, you will see that some Nigerians do not even have money to visit ordinary patent medicine dealers.

“We have a lot of poor ones around us and I try as much as I can to touch such lives, whether as a governor or not. As I am about to turn 53, may I appeal to Nigerians, most of whom have already informed me of their intention to place adverts for me, that I do not need that. I am happier if they utilise the money for adverts to helping the poor among us and rebuilding schools in their communities,” Obi said.

The former governor said his birthday would be a day of reflection for him, adding: “All I need from Nigerians, including journalists that day, is to pray for me; for God to grant us all, especially President Goodluck Jonathan, the wisdom to lead his people aright.”

Speaking further, Obi who looked happy and fulfilled, said he used better part of his time now trying to raise money from organisations to assist the Church to institute micro credit for the poor through grants to Bishops for a revolving scheme.

“So far, I have raised over N25 million and have also disbursed same to some Catholic, Anglican and Methodist dioceses in the state.  I will even double my efforts because such gestures guarantee us genuine happiness,” Obi said.

 

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