The Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate and former Anambra State Governor, Mr. Peter Obi, has firmly debunked fresh allegations making the rounds about his recent trip to Rome and his alleged involvement in a fictitious ₦225 billion Fidelity Bank debt scandal.
In a statement released to the public, Obi called out those he described as “merchants paid ostensibly to propagate anything negative against Peter Obi,” accusing them of twisting even his “solemn spiritual trip to Rome” into a malicious campaign of lies and slander.
Addressing the swirling rumors, Obi stated unequivocally that he has not held any private meeting with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, nor has he sought such an audience. He clarified that the only interaction between him and President Tinubu since the latter assumed office was a brief, respectful greeting at Saint Peter’s Basilica during the inauguration Mass of Pope Leo XIV, where he happened to be seated behind the President and other dignitaries.
Obi also set the record straight on his actual itinerary, revealing that he was in Rome on May 9th for the lying-in-state of Pope Francis, after which he left Vatican City directly for London, before returning to Nigeria. He described the blackmail as “entirely false, baseless, and malicious.”
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The former governor took particular issue with claims that he owns Fidelity Bank, a narrative being pushed by what he termed the “blackmailer-in-chief.” According to Obi, while he once served as Chairman/Director of three financial institutions; including Fidelity Bank, the bank is publicly held with over 500,000 shareholders, and no single person owns a majority stake. He warned that such false claims not only target him personally but also aim to damage the reputations and investments of hard-working Nigerians who are part-owners of the bank.
“This blackmailer seeks to harm these hard-working Nigerians and cause them needless distress,” Obi said, reiterating that these falsehoods are part of a desperate campaign to tarnish his image.
He concluded his statement with a call for spiritual reflection, praying that his detractors might find the virtues of gratitude and understanding, reminding them that “we came here with nothing and will go with nothing,” and that no one can truly profit from peddling evil. Obi added.