The 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, on Monday responded to allegations that he bribed a journalist with Arise TV, Oseni Rufai.
Reno Omokri, an-ex aide to Goodluck Jonathan, had described Rufai as a “compromised journalist who is sponsored by Peter Obi.”
Responding to the allegations, Obi said he had never been to Rufai’s village or know when he is from.
“Ordinarily, I do not get involved in name-calling and mud-slinging. Neither do I attack people nor try to defame their personalities in the course of my political journey. I have also avoided replying to cheap, wicked or malicious blackmail publicly or privately in the same irresponsible manner that they are thrown at me.
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Anyone who has followed my corporate and political life knows that I always stay on issues, with my focus on finding solutions to societal challenges and ameliorating the suffering of the people.
“I do however need to clarify a few issues, especially since a third party is involved. There is a recent case where my name has been mentioned in a malicious and cheap blackmail against one of Nigeria’s best Television presenters, Mr. Rufai Oseni, who has stood sternly for what is right and has challenged me fearlessly on some occasions while speaking truth to power. I have recently been mentioned to have bribed Mr. Rufai Oseni by financially sponsoring the burial of his father.
“Let me clearly state that this is a categorical lie. It is not true, cannot be true and will never be true. Everyone who understands or follows my approach to things will attest to the fact that I do not give anyone money to promote my name.”
The former Anambra governor also said he had never and will never “monetarily induce any journalist to speak or write in my favour.”
