Former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi denied on Friday that President Bola Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Policy Communication, Daniel Bwala, attempted to recruit him for his 2023 presidential campaign.
Obi dismissed the accusation, insisting that he had no contacts with Bwala and would not engage in “transactional politics.”
The former Anambra State governor made the clarification in a statement issued in Abuja by his media aide, Ibrahim Umar, amid heated debate among political actors about events surrounding the 2023 general election.
The statement read, “Normally, we would not dignify Bwala’s baseless accusations with a reply, given his well-documented history of dishonesty. However, we feel it is necessary to address this matter for the benefit of the public, who may be misled.
“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. The Obi that Nigerians know and appreciate will never engage in such practices.
“He would rather allocate resources to provide desks for children in Bwala’s village than pay him to concoct falsehoods for public consumption.
“Obi’s approach is rooted in the pursuit of good governance and the creation of a better society for all. He does not pay people to promote a cause; instead, he invites them to join him in believing in a shared vision.
“For the umpteenth time, we call on Bwala and others like him to count Obi out of their greed, repent, and join us in the quest for a new Nigeria.”
The statement follows recent claims by Bwala that Obi had attempted to enlist him in the Labour Party’s 2023 presidential campaign.
During an interview with On-Air Personality Daddy Freeze, Bwala revealed that former President Olusegun Obasanjo made the request during a meeting in London with Obi’s running mate, Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed, and other political stakeholders at the Hilton Hotel.
Despite his respect for Obasanjo, Bwala declined the overture. He also claimed that Ambassador Amuchi Osuk was involved.
The presidential assistant also addressed questions about his political attitude at the time, stating that some detractors felt he would naturally support a Christian candidate rather than the Muslim-Muslim ticket that ultimately materialized under the ruling All Progressives Congress.
The exchange adds to the continuing political feud between those connected with the present administration and opposition actors following the 2023 elections.
