Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s (LP) presidential candidate for the election of February 25, 2023, has denied rumours that he paid for the funeral of journalist Rufai Oseni’s father.
Obi said that the need for the refutation arose from malicious people’s conjectures that he had financed the journalist’s father’s burial in order to obtain positive attention.
Obi expressed disdain at attempts by people he called sponsored blackmailers who he claimed were determined to associate him with damaging things in an effort to damage his well-earned image in a statement released by his media office on Monday.
He urged such people to abandon such ideas and focus their efforts instead on building a better Nigeria.
In the course of my political career, Obi said: “Normally, I do not engage in name-calling and mud-slinging, nor do I attack individuals or attempt to destroy their characters.
“I have also refrained from responding to cheap, nasty, or vicious blackmails in the same careless way they are hurled at me in public or out in the open.
“Anyone who has followed my corporate and political life knows that I always remain on issues, with my focus on finding solutions to societal challenges and alleviating people’s suffering,” I said.
The former governor of Anambra state asserted such situations called for clarification, particularly when a third party was involved.
“The recent example where my name was mentioned in nasty and deceptive blackmail against one of the top television presenters in Nigeria, Mr. Rufai Oseni, who has stood sternly for what is right and has challenged me fearlessly on some occasions while speaking truth to power.
“Let me be very clear: This is a flat-out lie from the depths of hell. I don’t pay anyone money to spread the word about me, as everyone who knows me would confirm. I have never paid a journalist to write or talk favourably about myself.
Obi continued by saying that people had become accustomed to his honouring invites to social gatherings like birthday parties and funerals.
He said, “Countless media professionals, journalists, the underprivileged, the affluent, etc. have all invited me to their events, and they will witness to the fact that I honour such invites, especially when people are mourning.
I always go up to such ceremonies with some presents to encourage the celebrant, as it is possible in Igbo culture.
“I’ve never gone to the village of Rufai. I have no idea where he is from even as I write this. Then, one asks why someone would choose to damage another person’s reputation without good cause.
“I wish people who are engaged in such bad undertakings well and ask God to have pity on them.
Our attention should be on saving Nigeria from the numerous problems that afflict it. Lifting people out of poverty should be our main priority.
“Millions of Nigerians are unsure about where they will get their next meal. There are several kids that are jobless in their productive age.
For the advancement of our country, finding answers to these problems should be our top priority. I am still dedicated to doing that.
