Veteran Nollywood actor Bob-Manuel Udokwu has revealed the story behind an old photograph of himself with Peter Obi, explaining that the picture was taken during a humanitarian mission to Haiti following the country’s devastating 2010 earthquake.
According to Udokwu, the Nigerian government was seeking ways to support Haiti’s recovery efforts through the Red Cross, and he was part of the delegation because of his role as a celebrity Red Cross official.
He recalled that members of the delegation first met with then-President 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.”
Udokwu explained that Obi, who was governor of Anambra State at the time, was also involved with the Red Cross as a patron. Following the meeting with Yar’Adua, Obi briefed the delegation as arrangements were made for the humanitarian mission.
“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.”
The actor said the Red Cross and federal government subsequently decided that Obi should cover his airfare because he was from Anambra State while Obi was the state’s governor.
“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].”
Udokwu said the arrangements were eventually completed and the delegation travelled to Haiti, where the photograph was taken.
“Eventually we did, we went to Haiti where that picture was taken…”