By Abiola Olawale
Peter Obi, the 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, has officially debunked claims made by Daniel Bwala, President Bola Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Policy Communication regarding a purported invitation to join his campaign team.
Obi, a former Anambra State governor did not mince words, urging Bwala to maintain a level of integrity in his public discourse.
The controversy began when Bwala, a former spokesperson for the Atiku Abubakar presidential campaign who recently transitioned into a supporter of the Tinubu administration, suggested in media appearances that Obi had reached out to him.
Bwala implied there were efforts to recruit him into Obi’s political fold to bolster the “Obidient” movement’s legal and communication strategy.
Speaking in an interview with On-Air Personality Daddy Freeze, Bwala said the request was conveyed through former President Olusegun Obasanjo during a meeting in London.
According to Bwala, the conversation occurred while Obasanjo was at the Hilton Hotel with Obi’s running mate, Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed, and other political stakeholders.
Bwala said that despite his respect for Obasanjo, he declined the overture. He also claimed that Ambassador Amuchi Osuk had been appointed by Obi’s team to coordinate early campaign activities.
However, in a statement released by his media aide, Ibrahim Umar, Obi clarified that no such conversation ever took place.
The statement reads: “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”
