Afrobeats superstar Davido has sparked fresh conversation about wealth and political accountability after reacting to a resurfaced video in which former Anambra State governor and NDC presidential candidate Peter Obi discussed his business history and how he accumulated his wealth before entering politics.
The video, shared by journalist Rufai Oseni on X, shows Obi speaking about his career as a businessman, importer and banker before becoming governor of Anambra State.
In the clip, Obi displayed an American Express Platinum Card while explaining that the card was introduced in 1987 and was initially issued to a select group of about 5,000 people. Recent reports on the resurfaced video also state that he displayed what he described as the American Express Centurion, popularly known as the Black Card, which he said was introduced in 1999 for a very limited number of cardholders.
But beyond the cards, Obi used the opportunity to explain that his financial background predated his political career.
According to his account, he operated a market management and import business and was, at different points, involved in bringing international consumer brands into Nigeria. He specifically mentioned being the sole importer of Heinz Salad Cream and said he was involved in importing Ovaltine and products connected to South African Breweries.
Obi also spoke about a company he had previously been involved with which he eventually handed over to his brother. According to him, his brother took over the business and paid him off, after which the company became associated with Next Cash and Carry, with outlets in Port Harcourt and Abuja.
He further recalled his days as a major trader, saying he imported wine and was widely known in business circles at the time.
From trading, Obi said he moved into banking, where his career expanded into boardroom positions. He stated that he served on the boards of three banks and became chairman of one before entering politics. He also said he held significant shares in the banks where he served.
Obi's own account of his pre-political career has been reported previously, particularly in 2021, when he addressed questions surrounding the Pandora Papers and explained how he accumulated his wealth before becoming governor.
His business and banking background has also been documented by sources associated with his biography. His official website describes him as a trader who later became a company chairman and identifies previous leadership positions involving Fidelity Bank, Guardian Express Mortgage Bank, Future View Securities and Paymaster Nigeria, among others.
However, Obi has maintained that entering politics came at a personal financial cost.
He said that while he does not regret becoming involved in public service, going into politics made him poorer.
It was against this backdrop that Rufai Oseni used the resurfaced video to pose a broader challenge to Nigerian politicians, asking whether they could similarly explain publicly how they accumulated their wealth.
“Can every Nigerian politician tell us how they made their money like this?” Oseni asked.
Davido then quoted the post and responded with a short but pointed reaction:
“None of them can try it 😂😂”
The singer's comment has since generated discussion online, with many Nigerians debating whether political figures should be expected to provide clearer accounts of their financial histories, particularly before and after holding public office.
For Davido, however, the challenge appeared straightforward: if politicians are willing to seek public trust and control public resources, Nigerians should also be able to scrutinise the financial journeys that brought them into politics.
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