The Digest:
Former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi has flatly denied claims by presidential aide Daniel Bwala that he sought to recruit him into his 2023 election campaign, describing the allegation as "baseless." In a statement by media aide Ibrahim Umar, Obi's camp said the accusation would ordinarily not merit a reply given Bwala's "well-documented history of dishonesty," but addressed it in the public interest. The statement drew a sharp contrast between Obi's political approach and what it called Bwala's "transactional politics," stating: "Obi has made it clear that he excludes individuals like Bwala from his political activities and any form of transactional politics that sustain people like him in political circles. He would rather allocate resources to provide desks for children in Bwala's village than pay him to concoct falsehoods." The denial follows Bwala's interview with Daddy Freeze, where he alleged Obi tried to recruit him through former President Olusegun Obasanjo at a London meeting. Obi's camp urged Bwala to "repent and join us in the quest for a new Nigeria."
Key Points
- Obi denies seeking Bwala's support for 2023 campaign, calls claim "baseless."
- Says he doesn't do "transactional politics" that sustain people like Bwala.
- Would rather provide desks for village children than pay Bwala to lie.
- Bwala alleged Obi tried to recruit him via Obasanjo at London meeting.
- Obi's camp urges Bwala to "repent" and join quest for new Nigeria.
Sources: Official Statement
