Popular Nigerian blogger Linda Ikeji has weighed in on the controversy surrounding a luxury handbag recently seen with Margaret Obi, wife of Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate Peter Obi.
The discussion erupted online after photos and videos of Margaret carrying the designer bag circulated widely, with claims that the item was worth about N250 million.
Linda, who has previously shown her interest in luxury designer fashion, shared a photo of the bag while addressing the speculation. Drawing from her familiarity with the brand, she urged people not to believe the widely circulated figure.
“Relax people… this is not a N250m bag…. If it was, you think she would be traveling with it? I know how much these bags cost, because I have a few. Relax!” she wrote.
Margaret Obi’s bag sparks political debate
The controversy began after footage emerged showing Margaret Obi at what appeared to be an airport while carrying a handbag identified online as a Hermès Kelly 35 in Malachite.
Claims about the bag’s value quickly became a subject of political discussion, particularly among Nigerians debating Peter Obi’s public image of frugality.
According to the information circulating online, the particular Hermès item has an official retail price of £131,938.81, which was estimated at approximately N237 million after conversion to naira.
The figure subsequently became a talking point on social media, with some commentators questioning whether the alleged cost of the handbag was consistent with Peter Obi’s political messaging about reducing the cost of governance.
Peter Obi’s reputation for frugality
During his 2023 presidential campaign, Peter Obi frequently presented himself as a politician who embraced financial discipline and a relatively modest lifestyle.
His public comments about owning limited personal items, including references to having a single pair of shoes or wristwatch, became part of the image associated with his campaign and the supporters popularly known as the “Obidient” movement.
Some supporters of President Bola Tinubu have since used the handbag controversy to question that narrative, while other social media users have debated what the luxury item says about the Obi family’s lifestyle.
However, the reported retail price does not establish that Margaret Obi purchased the bag for that amount.
There is also no confirmed evidence from the information provided that the handbag was bought at its official retail price. It could potentially have been acquired through other means, including as a gift or a borrowed item.
Linda Ikeji’s intervention has therefore added another angle to an online debate that had largely focused on the handbag’s alleged price and its political implications.
See the post below:
View this post on Instagram
