Former Anambra State Governor and 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has defended his administration’s investment in a brewery during his tenure, describing it as one of Anambra State’s most significant economic assets.

Speaking in an interview on Arise News with anchor Rufai Oseni on Monday, Obi addressed growing criticisms surrounding the state’s investment in the brewery, stating that the venture has become the state’s largest source of internally generated revenue and a major employer of labour.

Peter Obi served as Governor of Anambra State from 2006 to 2014, earning a reputation for fiscal prudence and emphasis on development-driven governance.

But there have been growing criticisms especially from the ruling All Progressives Congress that he left the state in a sorry state and that he did not make any remarkable achievements as governor.

Top among areas he is frequently criticised is his investment in Anambra brewery which he insisted has remained economically visible to the state.

“If I ever tell you what I suffered for that brewery to be built in Anambra State, you will not believe it,” Obi said. “I had to go out trying to attract business to Anambra State. The biggest revenue source for Anambra today is that brewery,” he explained.

Critics have also claimed that the state government’s equity in the brewery had depreciated, but he dismissed the criticism as ill-informed.

“Thank you very much. I wish other people in Nigeria invested in something that went down. That’s not smart,” he said sarcastically, suggesting that critics misunderstood the long-term value of the investment.

According to Obi, the brewery directly employs over 500 residents and indirectly supports the livelihoods of more than 5,000 others, including distributors and logistics operators.

“People need to understand what this investment means to the state’s economy. It’s not just about shares — it’s about jobs, value chains, and economic growth,” he added.

The former governor also contrasted public perception of Anambra’s brewery with those in other states.

“They have the biggest brewery in Ogun State. Have you ever heard anybody say in Ogun State, ‘Oh, the brewery is this?’” he asked rhetorically.

Obi further addressed accusations from critics who claim his policies contributed to poverty in Anambra during his tenure, dismissing the assertions as baseless.

“You are talking about a narrow interest, a narrow assessment. Go and look at the Nigerian Competitive Index,” he said.

“Before I was governor in 2006, and after I came back from impeachment in 2007, I was effectively governor until 2014 — seven years.”

He noted that Anambra’s development progress was assessed by credible international bodies, not by political opponents.

“By the time I ended in 2014, Anambra State under me was number one. It was UNDP that measured it, not me. I was even invited to the United Nations to come and give a speech on what we did,” Obi stated.

Highlighting improvements in education and healthcare, Obi encouraged Nigerians to verify his claims through donor agencies and development experts who worked in the state during his administration.

“Ask everybody — the only thing I didn’t do well, Rufai, is that I wasn’t in the media. I wasn’t going about paying media people, advertising myself,” he said.

The former governor added, “I live in Anambra today. The only place I have a house in my name is in Anambra State. I’m inviting you — any day in Anambra State — let’s walk the streets. And people will tell you who this man is.”