‘I Cut the Grass’: Obi Cites Igbariam Campus as One of His Achievements

By Eshioromeh Sebastian

Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), has finally responded to critics who have long demanded he name a school built during his tenure as Anambra State governor, pointing to the development of the Igbariam campus of the state university.

Speaking during an interview with Seun Okinbaloye on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics, Obi said his administration began work on the campus by clearing the bush that had overrun the site.

“People say I didn’t build a school. Seun, I built more than a school,” Obi said during the interview.

“There is a place called Igbariam campus. Seun, I cut the grass.”

The former governor clarified that he was referring to clearing and levelling the undeveloped land before facilities were constructed at the campus.

“When I say I cut the grass, it was a bush. I levelled the bush,” he explained.

The question has followed Obi since April 2024, when former presidential aide Reno Omokri challenged his supporters to identify one school constructed during his eight years as governor. Omokri offered $10,000 to anyone who could provide evidence of a school built by Obi’s administration.

Responding at the time, Obi acknowledged that he did not construct a new school but argued that his priority was rebuilding the state’s existing education system.

He said Anambra’s schools were in poor condition when he assumed office and claimed the state moved from 26th position to the top of national education rankings under his administration.

“Building new schools when the old ones are moribund is just like building coastal lines when internal roads are impassable,” Obi said in 2024.

During Sunday’s interview, however, Obi pointed to the Igbariam university campus as evidence that his administration undertook educational construction beyond renovating existing schools.

In November 2013, Obi’s administration announced a N5 billion infrastructure intervention for Anambra State University at its permanent site in Igbariam.

The intervention included awarding N1.3 billion for road projects to the campus, writing off N500 million debt owed by the institution, and securing a N1.5 billion hostel project from the Central Bank of Nigeria.

The university was also renamed Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University during a ceremony at the Igbariam campus marking the late Ikemba Nnewi’s posthumous 80th birthday.

Obi had previously detailed these efforts in 2019, stating that his administration started the development of the university at Igbariam, fencing it, tarring the complex and providing over 10 solid buildings.

The interview has drawn mixed reactions online, with some critics describing Obi’s response as evasive while supporters defended his record.

A fact-check analysis of Obi’s claims notes that while he made investments in educational infrastructure, the quality and integrity of educational outcomes under his tenure remain disputed. The analysis also pointed out that Obi’s claim of Anambra topping WAEC rankings is misleading, as WAEC has stated it does not rank states.

In a separate interview segment, Obi urged critics to focus on pressing national issues like poverty and insecurity rather than personality attacks.

He cited over 180 million Nigerians in poverty and a World Bank hunger warning as the critical issues that should dominate public discourse.