There was drama at Our Lady of Lourdes School of Nursing and Midwifery, Ihiala, Anambra State on Thursday, after the management of the college hinted it’s decision to name its new administrative building after former governor of the state and presidential hopeful, Mr Peter Obi.

The administrator of the College, Rev Fr Chidiebere Ughaerumba, who spoke during a visit by Peter Obi to donate funds for its growth, said given the level of support Obi had given to the Institution since his day as governor, the management plans to name the new administrative building after him.

Ughaerumba said: “Considering your continued support to us, when the school’s administrative building (a five-floor edifice) is completed, we will name it after you. We thank you for always coming and always donating. You are always interested in helping to build humanity.”

When Peter Obi protested the decision, Ughaerumba insisted that: “Then we may have to consider naming it after your wife, but we need to appreciate what you have been doing here.”

Obi, who again protested the decision, snatched the microphone to publicly reject the offer, saying it wasn’t right to name a building after him or his family, when he was only working to help humanity within his own conviction.

He said: “I’m against such plans. When I was governor, every community wanted to give me a chieftaincy title, but I rejected. Even the school where I passed through wanted to honour me with a honourary doctorate title. I was also given a national award and I said that would be after being governor. Even local government chairmen wanted to name a street against my name, but I said no.

“Any day I want to be addressed as doctor, I will go and read for a PhD. Whatever I need, God has always given me, so if there is anything one want to give me as favour, I suggest you look for anyone who wants it and give it to them.

“This week alone I have been to five schools, and I have donated between N5 million and N15million each. I can use the money I am giving to buy a new car for myself or throw a party, but I think it is better to use it to support you. It is an unpurposeful life for me if I use this money to throw a party, while a school in the somewhere needs just N10 million to buy a generating set.”

Obi later presented a cheque of N15 million to the college, insisting he will keep helping health colleges as his contribution to humanity.

He said: “I came to see what the bishop of Nnewi Catholic Diocese, Most Rev Dr Jonas-Benson Okoye is doing in the new cathedral in Nnewi, and after that I decided to come here to see the growth in your school and also support you.

“Money is meant to be used to take care of what can make society better. The two most important things in life are health and education and that is what this school is providing. I’m here today for my annual routine visit where I present cheques to school,” Obi said.

Drama as Obi rejects college’s decision to name administrative building after him