Victor Umeh, in a video posted on Symfoni TV on Wednesday, May 20, 2026, spoke about his early impressions of Peter Obi and conversations he had with people who knew the former governor personally before they became politically close.
According to Umeh, many of the people he consulted described Obi as a very prudent and financially disciplined individual who avoided unnecessary spending.
He explained that despite hearing repeated comments about Obi being extremely careful with money, he did not consider it a major concern and decided to discuss it directly with him.
According to him, “One thing that most of them repeated was that Obi was a very frugal, prudent person. “Ah, he has money, but you can’t get his money easily unless for a just cause.” So I said, if that is the only weakness he has, no problem. Let’s go and do it. So when he returned after 2 weeks, I told him that this is what people told me about you, your friends in CKC and those who knew you at University of Nigerian, Nsukka that you are very tight-fisted. Is that the truth? ” Umeh stated.
Umeh said that after Obi returned from a trip two weeks later, he confronted him with the comments people had made about him, including reports from former classmates and associates from Christ the King College and the University of Nigeria, Nsukka.
According to the senator, Obi responded by saying people were entitled to their opinions but maintained that he earned his money through hard work and managed it carefully.
“He said well, anybody can say anything, that he works for his money and that he uses money very prudently. He has allergy to wasteful spending.”
