Former Anambra State Governor and presidential aspirant Peter Obi has addressed the controversy surrounding his wife Margaret’s expensive designer handbag, insisting that her personal spending is none of his business provided it does not involve public funds.
Obi spoke in an interview conducted in Washington, DC, and shared online on Monday, September 14, 2026, days after images and videos of Margaret Obi carrying a green Hermès Kelly 35 Malachite bag went viral.
Social media users identified the bag as one listed on Hermès’ official website for £131,938.81 — roughly ₦237 million to ₦250 million at prevailing exchange rates — sparking intense debate about the politician’s long-cultivated image of personal frugality and prudence.
Critics, including media personality Daddy Freeze and Lere Olayinka, an aide to FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, argued that the luxury item contradicted Obi’s public persona of simplicity, which includes claims of owning only one wristwatch and one pair of shoes. They questioned how such opulence around him aligned with his campaign messaging on cutting the cost of governance.
In his response, Obi firmly separated his wife’s private finances from public resources.
“My wife has her own business and her own money, so what is my business if she buys expensive items with her money? The bags and shoes my wife wears, I don’t even know how much they cost,” he said. “As long as she doesn’t use public funds for it, it’s not a problem.”
He added that Margaret is “actually a bit less sophisticated now. She used to be far more sophisticated before I became governor.”
Obi emphasised that his primary focus remains the proper management of public money. “I’m managing public money, and as long as she lives her own life without interfering with my management of public funds, good luck to her,” he stated. He recalled that during his time as governor of Anambra State, he did not establish an Office of the First Lady, underscoring his approach to separating private and public spheres.
He further noted: “I don’t know how many dresses, bags, shoes, or whatever my wife has. She has her own money. So if she has her own money and wants to buy an expensive watch, that’s her own. I’m not the one doing that. It’s not my business.”
On broader principles, Obi said: “As long as what you do suits you, it doesn’t conflict with my interests, and it’s not paid by public money, you can do that.” He also referenced his personal habits, noting that he does not celebrate his own birthday but does not prevent others from celebrating theirs, and would attend such events if invited, provided he is not asked to foot the bill.
The controversy erupted after footage showed Margaret Obi at what appeared to be an airport or public event dressed in green and carrying the distinctive Hermès bag. While the retail price triggered widespread online scrutiny, there has been no independent confirmation that the bag was purchased at the listed price, gifted, or acquired through other means.
Obi’s remarks reinforce his long-standing position that private wealth, when legitimately earned, should not be conflated with the stewardship of public resources — a distinction he has repeatedly drawn in previous interviews about his family’s lifestyle and his own modest personal habits.
The former Labour Party presidential candidate in 2023, now associated with the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) ahead of future contests, continues to face questions about consistency between his public image and the lifestyles of those closest to him. Supporters have defended his stance, arguing that his wife’s independent means predate his political career and that no evidence links the items to public funds.
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