By Onoja Baba, Nigeria
Nigerian Presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 elections, Peter Obi, has broken his silence over viral claims that he secretly met with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in Rome to discuss a purported ₦225 billion debt linked to Fidelity Bank.
Obi, in a Facebook post made Thursday, described the allegation as a “baseless, malicious, and entirely false blackmail”.
He attributed the allegation to individuals he described as “merchants paid ostensibly to propagate anything negative against Obi.”
“It’s obvious that the biggest business for blackmailers now is talking about Peter Obi from every negative perspective,” he said.
He firmly denied ever seeking an audience with or meeting President Tinubu since he assumed office, except for a brief encounter at Saint Peter’s Basilica in Rome.
“Let me categorically state that I have never sought an audience with, nor met, President Tinubu since he assumed office, except about a one-minute meeting at the arena of Saint Peter’s Basilica, Rome, during the inauguration Mass of Pope Leo XIV,” Obi clarified.
He said he was in Rome for the lying in state of Pope Francis on May 9 and left immediately for London after the Mass.
Obi also addressed claims that he owns Fidelity Bank, stating clearly that while he once served as Chairman/Director, he is not an owner.
“Fidelity has over 500,000 shareholders, none of whom hold a majority stake. What this blackmailer seeks is to harm these hard-working Nigerians and cause them needless distress,” he added.
Obi concluded with a prayer for his detractors: “May God grant you the virtues of gratitude and understanding to know that we came here with nothing and will go with nothing, that they cannot profit from their evil ways.”
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