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| ….The meeting with President Tinubu |
A surge of negative propaganda against Peter Obi has raised concerns over the growing business of blackmail in the country’s political landscape.
Recent reports suggest that individuals with a reputation for spreading falsehoods have seized upon Obi’s recent spiritual journey to Rome, spinning it into a web of baseless allegations.
According to sources close to the former Anambra governor, the trip, intended as a private, spiritual retreat, has been maliciously recast by certain individuals as a clandestine meeting with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
One such claim alleges that Obi traveled to Rome to discuss a fictitious ₦225 billion debt crisis involving Fidelity Bank.
“These accusations are not only unfounded, but also malicious and entirely false,” said an Obi on his social media. Writing on his X handle formerly X, Obi said “It is unfortunate that some people have made it their life’s work to spread lies and blackmail for personal gain.”
Observers note that the relentless campaign against Obi reflects a broader trend of character assassination in Nigerian politics, where false narratives are weaponized to undermine opposition.
Here is full text of Obi’s what Obi wrote of the trend on his verified X handle
“It's obvious that the biggest business for blackmailers now is talking about Peter Obi from every negative perspective. Even my solemn spiritual trip to Rome has been twisted into yet another blackmail campaign by merchants paid ostensibly to propagate anything negative against Obi.
“One such individual, whose entire life revolves around blackmail, falsely claimed that I went to Rome to have a private meeting with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu regarding a purported ₦225 billion debt crisis involving Fidelity Bank. These claims are not only baseless, malicious, but entirely false.
“Let me categorically state that I have never sought an audience with, nor met, President Tinubu since he assumed office, except about 1 minute meeting at the arena of Saint Peter’s Basilica Rome during the inauguration Mass of Pope Leo XIV, where I was seated behind, and had to respectfully greet him, and other dignitaries present.
“I was previously in Rome on the 9th of May for the lying in state of Pope Francis. Immediately after the mass and exchanging pleasantries, I went straight from Vatican City to London, and then back to Nigeria.
“The self-proclaimed "blackmailer-in-chief" and others who thrive on spreading pain and falsehoods have also claimed that I own Fidelity Bank. For the record, I do not.
“Throughout my career, I have served as Chairman/Director of 3 banks/Financial institutions, of which Fidelity is one of them. Fidelity has over 500,000 shareholders, none of whom hold a majority stake.
What this blackmailer seeks is to harm these hard-working Nigerians and cause them needless distress.
“To those peddling these falsehoods, and engaging in blackmail, I offer a simple prayer: May God grant you the virtues of gratitude and understanding to know that we came here with nothing and will go with nothing, that they cannot profit from their evil ways.
“A new Nigeria is POssible.”
-PO
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