You can deny Mr. Peter Obi, former Governor of Anambra State, all the credits, but certainly not that he’s a gentleman. The bespectacled billionaire who fancies turning out mostly in South-South attires, both in and out of government, is still simple. No, very simple. And easily accessible. At Protea Hotel, on Awolowo Road, Ikoyi, Lagos on Thursday, November 26, 2015, YES INTERNATIONAL! Magazine Publisher/Editor-in-Chief, AZUH ARINZE, couldn’t resist asking him for an impromptu interview upon running into him at the reception, which he gladly obliged. But with a caveat: no question on Anambra State. Born on July 19, 1961, the two-term erstwhile Governor who enjoys describing himself as a trader is married to Margaret and they are blessed with two children, Gabriella and Gregory. He talked about life outside government, the things that now give him joy and more…
His Excellency, how is life outside government?
Well, very good! Life, for me, is the same thing. Whether I’m in government or out of government, it remains same. Because if you are a citizen of any country, you are committed to the good of that country, that society. So, you don’t really need to be in government to contribute. When I was not in government, I was a businessman, I was working hard to make sure that things were done in the proper manner, had the right character, behavior, everything. In government, I tried to do the same thing. That’s why whenever people ask me what is your greatest achievement in government, I will say I tried to change the people’s perception of life – that you can live a decent life and still be happy. That’s what I’m still doing today.
What do you miss about no longer being in government?
Nothing, absolutely nothing, because my life is the same thing. I don’t miss anything. I still have time to go and spend with the best people I want to spend my time with and that’s the school children. Because I believe that our greatest investment should be in education. What is turning round the lives of our competitors in the Asian world today is education. I believe the best is education. I’m still doing that, I still go to see the school children all over Nigeria and all that.
God has been nice to you, what more do you want from Him? What are the things God has not done for you?
Well, what I want from God is that my children live in a better society. My prayer everyday is for Nigeria, for Anambra State, for all the States in Nigeria; that we build a better place, that we bequeath to our children a better country than what we are going through now. That’s all. That’s my wish – that God makes this place better for all of us.
Before politics, you were a successful businessman. What makes a good businessman?
The same thing – to be committed in what you do, to work hard, but above all, spend less than you earn. That’s what makes the difference. Whether in government, in States or anything. Look at your income, look at your expenditure at all times. So, as a businessman, don’t say oh, I want to go and get married, I’m going to make my wedding flamboyant or I’m going to bury my father, it must be grand. All these things are a function of ignorance. Or you live in a house, I also want to live in a particular area and house. You must look at your income first and ask yourself – can I afford this?
You are not a politician per se. For a lot of people, you were just a successful businessman who went into politics. But that notwithstanding, with the experience garnered in the 8 years that you governed Anambra State and even afterwards, what makes a good politician?
Same thing! Know that you are elected to manage public wealth, public life. You must ask yourself questions weekly or monthly or quarterly. An unexamined life is not worth living. Have I used the resources of these people to their interest? It’s a critical question, because you are now elected to manage public wealth or the commonwealth of the people. It’s a thinking job, it’s a reflective job. You must consistently ask that question – what I did today, is it to their interest and this my action, is it to their interest? And then, did I do the right thing? It won’t always be right, because you are a human being; you won’t also always achieve success of what you want to do. But there must be one hundred percent effort to do the right thing and to ensure that the right thing seems to have been done. And wherever you make mistakes, be humble enough to admit it and show emotion, apologise and everything. I was wrong; because you are not God. Only God is right always. And try to involve people. Always get people to look at you and tell you; you are right or wrong.
Most people attain success in life, but they are not able to sustain it. Where do they always get it wrong?
That’s what I’m saying. They allow the success to take control of them or they allow their wealth to take control of them. No matter how rich you are, you are still a child of God, who God just granted some things. It should not take control of you. So, it’s by His power. You must remain grateful to God and ask Him to grant you wisdom to always be humble enough to listen to Him.
What mistake must a businessman not make?
To live beyond your means. Never live beyond your income and always try to do what is right, always innovate, find new ways of satisfying your customers and so on.
Where you are today, what will you say got you there?
Faith in God, because everything we have, comes from Him. We came with nothing, we are gonna go with nothing. Be less greedy. Many a time when I see people, the way they accumulate, what they eat and what they do, I feel they don’t know the meaning of life. Because most of the things people accumulate, they don’t need.
Why do you need to have houses all over the world? Why do you need to live in bogus places everywhere? If you have one of those things, okay, fine! But everybody wants to own a house in Ikoyi, in Victoria Island, in Maitama, in Asokoro, in Cape Town, in Johannesburg, in New York, in Atlanta, in this and in that and by doing that, you give yourself more headache. The more you accumulate, the more problems and troubles you have. An excellent businessman, in his business, makes profit and uses it to build a very good society. But those things must be as a result of you doing the right thing, it must be as a result of you conducting yourself in a manner that is expected, in the right manner. If profit comes, you invest in the society and that’s it.
When you are not working, what do you do? Your hobbies?
I read! The only thing that keeps me busy is reading…
Other than the Bible, which is the greatest book that you have read?
Of course, I wanted to say the Bible, but you said other than the Bible. I read the Bible a lot. I read people’s biographies and I listen to them as well. I read Philosophy in the university (UNN), so I still go back to read a lot of books on Philosophy, which allows me to think.
What is the greatest lesson that life has taught you?
What I said before – an unexamined life is not worth living. Whenever I get home everyday, the first thing I do is to say this thing that I did today, is it right? Is it wrong? And like I said, if it is right, okay; if it is wrong, don’t leave it till the next day. I admit that I’m wrong…
As a governor, I once saw you at the airport on my way to London carrying your bag, no aides and all that. Why have you chosen to live a simple life in spite of your wealth?
No, no, no…It was a temporary office. Okay, I’m no longer there today. Imagine what it would have been if somebody was carrying my bag before. Now, I will be missing the person. But I don’t miss anybody. And because I’m used to carrying it, it’s not even heavy. Even if it is heavy now, I will still carry it.