The 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate and former governor of Anambra state Mr. Peter Obi on Thursday described Sahara Reporters as “merchants paid ostensibly to propagate anything negative against Obi.”

This is coming after a media outlet, Sahara Reporters owned by Omoyele Sowore, the 2023 presidential candidate of the African Action Congress in a report on May 19 stated that “Peter Obi Was Bounced From VVIP Section At Papal’s Inauguration Over Lack Of Required Invitation Pass.”

And on May 20 in yet another news reported that “Peter Obi Went To Rome To Plead With Tinubu Over Fidelity Bank’s N225Billion Debt, Not For Papal Inauguration.”

Obi however debunked the rumor that he had gone to the Papal’s inauguration in Rome to seek private audience with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

The former governor of Anambra state had been seen in a photo alongside Kayode Fayemi smiling with President Tinubu in Rome and in another video where he was on a queue patiently waiting to be directed to a seat.

Without mentioning names, he stated that an individual whom he referred to as “blackmailer-in-chief” has been the one circulating the negative report against his person.

Obi’s post read: “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.” He prayed

By: Adeoye Olorunseun Elizabeth