A luxury handbag reportedly carried by Margaret Obi, wife of the 2027 presidential candidate of the Nigerian Democratic Congress, NDC, Peter Obi, has sparked controversy on social media.
DAILY POST reports that in a viral video from an event, Margaret was seen carrying a handbag identified by social media users as a Hermès Kelly 35 in Malachite.
According to commentators online, the handbag is listed on the Hermès website for £131,938.81, which they estimated to be about N237 million.
The reported price of the handbag has triggered mixed reactions, with some Nigerians criticising Margaret for carrying such an expensive item, while others argued that she has the right to purchase whatever she can afford.
Lere Olayinka, media aide to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, also joined the debate, accusing Peter Obi of presenting himself as a prudent person despite the reported luxury surrounding his family.
In a post on his X handle, Olayinka said Obi should stop portraying himself as someone who lives modestly.
According to him, “The issue is, her husband should stop lying and presenting himself as a prudent person.
“You want the people to donate N1,000 to fund your campaign, but your wife is using one bag that will take the contribution of N1,000 by 250,000 Nigerians to buy? That’s a fraud.
“For those of you who will say, it is her money or her husband’s money. Yes, you are right. But if as a private citizen, the wife of a supposed prudent man can buy a single bag worth over N250m, you can do a guess as to the cost of bags she will buy with public funds.”
Meanwhile, popular media personality, Daddy Freeze, also weighed in on the controversy, saying he had no problem with Margaret carrying a luxury handbag.
Daddy Freeze, however, questioned Peter Obi’s repeated claims about owning only one pair of shoes and one wristwatch, arguing that the lifestyle associated with him does not appear to match the image of extreme modesty he projects.
“I have no problem with Peter Obi’s wife carrying a luxury bag; her husband is a billionaire. He was rich before he came into government.
“The only problem I have with him is he says he only has one shoe and one watch, but when you put yourself in a certain light, and things around you don’t seem to add to that light, there is a problem,” he said in a viral video.
On his part, a popular human rights lawyer, Deji Adeyanju said the “criticism is unnecessary,” stating that “the husband is very rich.”
“There’s really nothing wrong in the woman carrying this bag but they have deceived so many people about not giving shishi that many Nigerians are disgusted by their lifestyle.
“The husband usually flies a private jet and at other times, he will go to the end of Air peace economy class to act in the movie. Be yourself Mr. Obi and stop the drama and acting,” he said in an X post.
Lere, Adeyanju, Daddy Freeze speak as Peter Obi’s wife’s N200m handbag spark debate