L-R: Dr. Sam Egwu, Sen. Ben Ndi Obi, Chief Jim Nwobodo, Mr. Peter Gregory Obi, Dr. Okwesilieze Nwodo and Sen. Gil Nnaji
By Tony Adibe
Former presidential candidate of the Labour Party in Nigeria’s 2023 general elections, Mr. Peter Obi, alongside some notable Igbo leaders on Tuesday, paid a courtesy visit to former Governor of old Anambra State, Chief Jim Nwobodo in his Amechi residence and his ancestral home at Ugwu Agba, Amechi-Uno, Enugu State.
NewsBits reports that the popular old politician, fondly called Jim, is now reputed to enjoy, literally, living in two homes – one at his country home that sits on a massive expanse of land, and also his ancestral home, which seems to contrast in size with the first, though located in the ”inner part” of Ugwu Agba, Amechi-Uno, – both in Enugu South Local Government Area of the state. Jim also later received the delegation at his ancestral home, where he recalled, nostalgically, that his father was buried.
The delegation comprised former governors Sam Egwu of Ebonyi State and Okwesilieze Nwodo of Enugu State, as well as Senators Ben Obi and Gil Nnaji, who accompanied Peter Obi. Leader of the delegation and a notable personality in the southeast, Sen. Ben Ndi Obi, described Jim as “the grandfather of SouthEast politics”, emphasising that they were not at Nwobodo’s home to “talk politics”, but rather to “show respect” to “our leader and father.”
Senator Obi said that the visit was an “annual event,” and that at the appropriate time, they would visit again to brief Nwobodo on the issue of the Nike Lake declaration and Peter Obi’s move to the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
BACKGROUND:
Giving a background to the visit, Senator Obi said: “This visit was agreed upon on 26th December when I spoke with him (on the phone) to wish him a happy Christmas. And he said he was still in Abuja but that he would be coming home before the new year.
“So, I informed His Excellency, Peter Obi. And he agreed that we will visit him and his wife on 6th January. So, we have come here to wish him well as our leader. And in fact, we have not come here to discuss politics today. And that’s why you can see that the number (of delegates) is not, ordinarily, what it should be. That’s the story for the day.”
However, Nwobodo, whose eyes sparkled with excitement especially for being regarded as “the grandfather of SouthEast politics,” said: “Absolutely correct. I’m the oldest politician in the southeast. And I don’t want to toy with such description. He is absolutely correct when he described me as the grandfather of SouthEast politics.”
L-R: Dr. Sam Egwu, Senator Ben Ndi Obi, Mr. Peter Gregory Obi, Chief Jim Nwobodo, Mrs. Pat Nwobodo, a guest and Senator Gil Nnaji (right)
Nwobodo, who was a former Nigeria’s Minister of Sports, expressed appreciation for the visit, saying he felt great and thanked God for the mark of respect. He emphasized the importance of respecting elders and added that he was no longer “just a politician”, but “an elder statesman.”
He lauded Peter Obi, saying he was a respectable and acceptable candidate, and that he had always believed that an Igbo man should be president of Nigeria. He referenced the late Zik of Africa, saying he would be angry in his grave that the country’s aspirations had not been met.
Peter Obi said they were there strictly to wish Nwobodo a happy New Year and that they would return to discuss politics and the way forward. He thanked Nwobodo for hosting them and prayed for God’s blessings on him. The visit was a show of respect and solidarity, with Nwobodo praying for God’s intervention in Nigeria’s affairs. He expressed hope that one day, an Igbo man would become president of Nigeria.
“As the leader of our delegation said, we have only come strictly for the new year’s good wishes for our dear leader. And to correct it – this is not the first time we are coming here; maybe the first time we’re coming with the press involved. We just come strictly to wish him well, that God Almighty will grant him the best of the new year, grant him healthy, fruitful, and happy years ahead,” said Obi, who also added, “We will come back to discuss politics and the way forward and take his blessings.”
NewsBits reports that the delegation was welcomed with a warm reception, as Nwobodo hosted them to lunch. The visit has so far caused tongue-wagging in certain political fora, as a good number of people analysed it to reflect the much-taunted popularity of Peter Obi in the South East and beyond.
ANCESTRAL HOME
NewsBits recalls that Nwobodo returned to his ancestral compound after becoming the Onyeizhi Umunna (eldest man of his clan) in Ugwu Agba, Amechi-Uno, Enugu South local government area of Enugu State.
Nwobodo is 85 years old, born on May 9, 1940. He was celebrated at a grand event in 2025, where Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State honored him as a “priceless gift to humanity” and a symbol of selfless service. Nwobodo had since 1999 left his Enugu GRA house to his house in Amechi that he built in 1978 before becoming a Governor in the Second Republic in 1979.
He, however, returned to his native father’s home in Ugwu Agba Amechi-Uno, on Sunday, saying that he wanted to be participating fully in all his clan meetings and other community development as an Oha.
Nwobodo had, during the Sunday event, said: “Since my elder brother could not accomplish returning to our father’s house, I decided to return, especially now that I have become the eldest of our family.”
