Governor Obi, 53, was Anambra State governor between 2006 and 2014 and was one of President Jonathan's closest loyalists. He was the deputy director-general of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Presidential Campaign Organisation and was recently appointed chairman of the Nigerian Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
However, in what is the first such development, Governor Obi turned down the offer of a lucrative oil block Governor Obi, who is an honourary special adviser on finance to President Jonathan, was approached by one of the key players in the auctioning of the marginal fields and offered the opportunity to bid.
Apparently, he turned it down on the spot, saying that he did not like getting involved in unfamiliar businesses. A businessman himself, who is involved in the sale of food items, Governor Obi said he would rather stick to what he is familiar with.
He added: “I am a trader. After selling their oil, let the oil entrepreneurs come and buy my tomato ketchup and other wares.”
Nigeria's last round of bidding for marginal fields opened in late November 2013 when Governor Obi was still in office, so he could not be considered for a bid then. He told close friends, however, that his core competence is in trading, which he has done since his university days in Nsukka.
Governor Obi also has a lot of experience in banking, serving on the boards of three banks, including Fidelity Bank, of which he was chairman before contesting the Anambra State governorship elections in 2003. It was his experience here that got him appointed as SEC chairman.
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