By Myke Uzendu, Abuja
The media office of former presidential candidate of Labour party in 2023, Peter Obi, has dismissed claims by lawyer and political commentator Daniel Bwala that the former Anambra State governor attempted to engage him politically.
In a statement issued on Friday by the spokesman of the Peter Obi Media Reach (POMR), Ibrahim Umar, the group described Bwala’s allegation as false and misleading.
The statement said the organisation would ordinarily ignore the claims but decided to respond in order to prevent members of the public from being misled.
“Normally, we would not dignify Barrister Bwala’s baseless accusations with a reply, given his well-documented history of dishonesty,” Umar said. “However, we feel it is necessary to address this matter for the benefit of the public.”
POMR insisted that Obi does not engage in transactional politics or pay individuals to promote his political activities.
“Our principal 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 statement said.
The group added that Obi’s political philosophy is rooted in advocacy for good governance and collective national development rather than financial inducement.
“The Peter Obi that Nigerians know and appreciate will never engage in such practices,” Umar stated. “He would rather allocate resources to provide desks for children in Bwala’s village than pay him to concoct falsehoods for public consumption.”
According to the statement, Obi prefers to persuade Nigerians to support his vision for national development rather than paying supporters.
“Obi does not pay people to promote a cause; instead, he invites them to join him in believing in a shared vision,” Umar said.
The media office also urged individuals involved in what it described as transactional politics to reconsider their actions for the sake of Nigeria’s future.
“For the umpteenth time, 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,” the statement added.
