Veteran Nollywood actor Bob-Manuel Udokwu has shed light on the story behind an old photograph of himself with Peter Obi, revealing that the picture was taken during a humanitarian mission to Haiti after the country was hit by a devastating earthquake in 2010.
Udokwu explained that the Nigerian government had been exploring ways to assist Haiti’s recovery through the Red Cross, leading to the formation of a delegation for the humanitarian mission.
The actor said he was part of the delegation because of his involvement with the Red Cross as a celebrity official. Before the trip, members of the team met with the then President of Nigeria, the late Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
“That picture was taken in Haiti. In 2010 there was a major earthquake in Haiti and the Nigerian government wanted some people to go and see how to help out. To help them in recovery through Red Cross. I happened to be a celebrity Red Cross official, so we had a meeting with the then president, late president Yar’Adua at the Villa in Aso Rock.”
According to Udokwu, Peter Obi, who was serving as the governor of Anambra State at the time, was also a patron of the Red Cross. He said Obi later briefed the delegation after the meeting with Yar’Adua as preparations for the trip got underway.
“Peter Obi was the governor of Anambra state then, and Patron for the Red Cross. So after the meeting with president Yar’Adua, he briefed us and arrangements were being made for us to go to Haiti.”
Udokwu further recalled that the Red Cross and the federal government decided that Obi should handle his travel expenses because he was from Anambra State and Obi was the governor of the state.
“The Red Cross people and the federal government now said that since I was from Anambra state, I wasn’t in government and Peter Obi was governor of Anambra state, that he should take care of my air fare [plane ticket].”
The actor said the arrangements were eventually concluded, allowing the delegation to travel to Haiti for the humanitarian assignment.
“Eventually we did, we went to Haiti where that picture was taken…”