‘This Is Not a N250 Million Bag’ - Linda Ikeji Reacts to Margaret Obi’s Luxury Handbag Controversy

Media personality and blogger Linda Ikeji has weighed in on the growing controversy surrounding a luxury handbag reportedly carried by Margaret Obi, wife of former Anambra State governor and 2027 presidential hopeful Peter Obi.

The handbag has been at the centre of a heated social media debate after Nigerians identified it as a Hermès Kelly 35 in Malachite, with some reports and online commentators putting its value at between N237 million and N250 million. The eye-watering figure quickly turned the handbag into a political talking point, with critics questioning whether such luxury fits with Peter Obi’s long-standing public image of prudence and calls for a reduction in the cost of governance.

However, Linda Ikeji has now asked Nigerians to calm down, insisting that the bag is not worth 250 million Naira. Reacting to the controversy on social media, Linda said:

“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!”

Linda’s comment has added another layer to the already heated debate, particularly because she is herself known for owning high-end designer items. The N250 million figure circulating online appears to be based on the reported retail price of a similar Hermès model converted from pounds to naira. However, there is no confirmed evidence establishing that Margaret Obi paid that exact amount for the particular bag she was carrying.  

Peter Obi has also addressed the controversy, saying his wife has her own business and income and that he does not concern himself with how she spends her personal money.

“My wife has her own business and her own money, so what is my business if she buys expensive items with her money?” Obi said. He added that he does not even know how much the bags and shoes she uses cost.  

While supporters of the former governor argue that his wife’s fashion choices should not be used to judge his management of public funds, critics maintain that the issue is about whether his personal brand of frugality is consistent with the lifestyle surrounding him.

For now, the handbag has become much more than a fashion accessory. It has turned into another battleground in Nigeria’s political conversation with Linda Ikeji essentially saying: before Nigerians start calculating N250 million, perhaps they should first get the actual price right.