Former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi has rejected claims by the Special Adviser to the President on Policy Communication, Daniel Bwala, that he attempted to recruit him into his campaign during the 2023 presidential election, describing the allegation as baseless and not deserving of serious attention.
Obi clarified a statement issued in Abuja on Friday through his media aide, Ibrahim Umar, maintaining that he had no dealings with Bwala and would not associate with what he described as transactional politics.
The statement noted that the allegation would ordinarily not warrant a response but said a clarification had become necessary in the interest of the public.
“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,” the statement said.
Obi’s camp also drew a sharp contrast between the former governor’s political approach and what it described as the transactional tendencies of his accuser, insisting that the Labour Party stalwart had deliberately kept individuals like Bwala away from his political activities.
According to the statement, Obi would rather channel resources into social causes than engage in what it called political patronage.
“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 for public consumption,” it stated.
The rebuttal concluded with an appeal to Bwala and others of similar disposition to abandon what it described as greed and support the campaign for a new Nigeria.
“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 added.
The denial follows claims made by Bwala during an interview with on-air personality Daddy Freeze, in which he alleged that Obi had attempted to enlist him in the Labour Party’s 2023 presidential campaign through former President Olusegun Obasanjo.
According to Bwala, the alleged approach took place during a meeting at a hotel in London, where Obasanjo was present alongside Obi’s running mate, Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed, and other political stakeholders. Bwala claimed he declined the offer despite his respect for the former president.
