Peter Obi, a past presidential candidate for the Labour Party (LP), has denied allegations that he asked Daniel Bwala, President Bola Tinubu’s Special Advisor on Policy Communication, for assistance in the 2023 election.
Recall that Bwala claimed in an interview with Nigerian media personality Daddy Freeze that he was asked to work for Peter Obi in 2023 through former President Olusegun Obasanjo, but he turned him down.
But in a statement released on Friday, Ibrahim Umar, a spokesman for Peter Obi Media Reach (POMR) on behalf of the former governor, called the accusation untrue and emphasized that they had to react to avoid misleading the people.
Umar emphasized that the former presidential candidate does not pay anyone to promote a good cause and said that Peter Obi has continuously separated himself from persons it associates with transactional politics.
He insisted that Bwala and others like him should turn from their avarice and join the fight for a new Nigeria, citing Peter Obi’s emphasis on persuasion and the pressing need for a team effort to save the country.
“Normally, we would not dignify Barr Bwala’s baseless accusations with a reply, given his well-documented history of dishonesty,” the statement said. For the sake of the public, who might be misled, we believe it is imperative to address this issue.
“Our principal, Peter Obi, has stated unequivocally that he does not allow people like Bwala to participate in his political activities or engage in any kind of transactional politics that keeps people like him in political circles.
“The Peter Obi that Nigerians know and respect will never act in this way. Instead of paying Bwala to fabricate lies for the general public, he would rather to use funds to buy desks for the kids in his community.
“Obi’s strategy is based on the goal of improving society for everybody and pursuing good government. He encourages others to share his belief in a common vision rather than paying them to advocate for a cause.
His “engagement” emphasizes persuasion and the pressing necessity for a team effort to save our country. Driven by the same core beliefs, he extends a warm welcome to anyone who willingly decide to join him.
“We call on Bwala and others like him to count Peter Obi out of their greed, repent, and join us in the quest for a new Nigeria that is indeed POssible for the umpteenth time.”
