Photo: Daniel Bwala
By: Daniel Kanu
The media office of former presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, has dismissed claims by presidential spokesman Daniel Bwala that the former Anambra State governor attempted to engage him politically.
In a statement issued on Friday by the spokesman of the Peter Obi Media Reach (POMR), Ibrahim Umar, the media office described Bwala’s allegation as false and misleading, insisting that Obi does not engage in what it called “transactional politics.”
The statement said the former presidential candidate has consistently maintained a principled approach to politics and governance, which excludes financial inducement or patronage to individuals for political support.
According to the statement, Obi has made it clear that individuals who thrive on transactional politics have no place in his political activities.
“Ordinarily, we would not dignify Barrister Bwala’s baseless accusations with a response, given what we described as his history of dishonesty. However, we find it necessary to address the issue so that members of the public are not misled,” the statement read.
POMR stated that Obi’s political philosophy is centred on good governance, accountability and the collective effort of Nigerians who share a vision of building a better country.
“Our principal excludes individuals like Bwala from his political activities and any form of transactional politics that sustain people like him in political circles,” the statement added.
It further stated that the former governor would rather channel resources into initiatives that benefit the public, such as improving educational infrastructure, than engage in political inducements.
“The Peter Obi that Nigerians know and appreciate will never engage in such practices. He would rather allocate resources to provide desks for children in Bwala’s village than pay him to fabricate falsehoods for public consumption,” the statement said.
The media office explained that Obi’s style of political engagement is based on persuasion and shared conviction rather than monetary incentives.
“Obi does not pay people to promote a cause; instead, he invites them to join him in believing in a shared vision. His engagement focuses on persuasion and emphasises the urgent need for a collective effort to rescue the nation,” it added.
POMR also called on politicians engaged in what it described as transactional politics to reconsider their actions in the interest of the country’s future.
“For the umpteenth time, we call on Bwala and others like him to count Peter Obi out of their greed, repent and join the quest for a new Nigeria that is indeed possible,” the statement concluded.
The exchange between Obi’s media office and Bwala comes amid ongoing political debates and alignments within Nigeria’s opposition space ahead of future electoral contests, with several political actors trading accusations over credibility and political strategy.
