Afrobeats star David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido, has challenged Nigerian politicians to publicly account for the sources of their wealth after 2027 presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress(NDC) Peter Obi gave an extensive explanation of his business career and financial background.
Davido’s challenge followed a clip from an interview in which former Anambra State governor Obi detailed the businesses he ran and the investments he made before entering politics.
Television host Oseni Rufai, who conducted the interview, had asked a question that put the spotlight directly on Nigeria’s political class: “Can every Nigerian politician tell us how they made their money like this?”
Davido responded bluntly: “None of them can try it.”
The comment has triggered fresh attention on social media, particularly over the long-running debate about how Nigerian politicians accumulated their wealth before and during their years in public office.
In the interview, Obi said his business career began long before he ventured into politics.
He said he operated a brand and market management company, held the franchise for Heinz products in Nigeria, including salad cream and baked beans, and served as the sole agent for South African Breweries.
The former governor also said he worked with pharmaceutical giant Novartis and had substantial investments in the banking sector.
According to Obi, he owned significant shares in two or three banks and served as chairman of at least one bank before becoming governor of Anambra State.
He further explained that the business he built later became associated with the Next Cash and Carry retail chain after he exited the business and his brother took over.
Obi was responding to questions surrounding allegations linked to the Pandora Papers and reported offshore assets attributed to him.
Asked about assets reportedly valued at about $15m held offshore, he used the interview to explain the business activities through which he said he accumulated his wealth before entering politics.
Obi also recalled his years in the United Kingdom and said he received one of the first American Express Platinum cards issued to a limited number of customers worldwide in 1987.
“If there’s anything to regret in my life, it’s going into politics because it made me poorer,” Obi said, while adding that he remained grateful for the opportunity to serve.
Davido’s intervention has added a celebrity voice to the debate, but his brief response has also turned Rufai’s question into a wider challenge to Nigeria’s political class: can politicians publicly and convincingly account for how they acquired their wealth before seeking public office?
The issue could become more prominent as political parties and candidates prepare for the 2027 elections, with voters increasingly scrutinising the personal wealth, business records and financial histories of those seeking political power.
Obi is the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress for the 2027 election.