Presidency Dismisses Obi’s Allegations as Baseless
The Nigerian Presidency has strongly refuted claims by Peter Obi, the 2027 presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), that he is being targeted by the administration of President Bola Tinubu. In a statement posted on his X handle on Wednesday night, Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, described Obi’s assertions as “unfounded and misleading.”
Premium Times earlier reported that Obi had suggested his life was under threat, alleging that the Tinubu government was constantly frustrating and targeting him. Obi also claimed he might not be alive to contest the January 2027 election and that people were being pressured not to invite him to social events.
Onanuga: Obi’s Claims Are Fabricated Propaganda
Reacting to the allegations, Onanuga stated, “His claim that he may not be alive for the January 2027 election and that people are being pressured not to invite him to social events is nothing more than a fabricated narrative, a page from his book of lies and propaganda.” He added that the claims lack substance and are designed to attract undue sympathy and deflect attention from Obi’s credibility deficit and the challenges faced by his political association, the NDC.
The presidential aide accused Obi of “dragging the government into every personal inconvenience” he encounters and resorting to exaggeration and baseless allegations. Onanuga mocked Obi’s reference to an incident at an airport where officials allegedly locked his car, suggesting it likely resulted from Obi flouting parking regulations.
Obi’s Bank Thriving Under Tinubu’s Reforms
Onanuga further claimed that Obi has a substantial interest in Fidelity Bank, which has continued to thrive due to the Tinubu government’s robust economic reforms. “The government is certainly not targeting the bank. Rather than being ‘haunted’ by the government, Mr Obi appears to be grappling with the consequences of his litany of unfounded statements,” he stated.
The presidential aide emphasized that the Tinubu government remains fully focused on delivering beneficial reforms for Nigerians and is not distracted by Obi’s self-serving narratives. “It (the government) has neither the time nor the inclination to be distracted by Mr Obi’s self-serving narratives and lies or by his candidacy, as he constantly diminishes himself with specious, unverifiable utterances,” Onanuga concluded.
