2023: Obi denies seeking Bwala’s support, says he doesn’t do transactional politics

Former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi has flatly denied claims by President Bola Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Policy Communication, Daniel Bwala, that he sought to recruit him into his 2023 presidential election campaign, describing the allegation as baseless and unworthy of a response.

Obi made the clarification in a statement issued in Abuja on Friday by his media aide, Ibrahim Umar, insisting he had no dealings with Bwala and would not be associated with what he described as transactional politics.

While acknowledging that the allegation would ordinarily not merit a reply, the statement said a response had become necessary in the public interest.

“Normally, we would not dignify Bwala’s baseless accusations with a reply, given his well-documented history of dishonesty. However, we feel it is necessary to address this matter for the benefit of the public, who may be misled,” the statement read.

Obi’s camp was unsparing in its characterisation of Bwala, drawing a sharp contrast between the former governor’s political approach and what it described as the transactional tendencies of his accuser.

“Obi has made it clear that he excludes individuals like Bwala from his political activities and any form of transactional politics that sustain people like him in political circles. He would rather allocate resources to provide desks for children in Bwala’s village than pay him to concoct falsehoods for public consumption,” the statement said.

The rebuttal closed with a pointed appeal to Bwala and those of similar disposition.

“For the umpteenth time, we call on Bwala and others like him to count Obi out of their greed, repent, and join us in the quest for a new Nigeria,” it stated.

The denial follows claims made by Bwala during an interview with On-Air Personality Daddy Freeze, in which he alleged that Obi had attempted to enlist him in the Labour Party’s 2023 presidential campaign through former President Olusegun Obasanjo.

According to Bwala, the approach was made during a meeting at the Hilton Hotel in London, where Obasanjo was present alongside Obi’s running mate, Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed, and other political stakeholders.

Bwala said he declined the overture despite his respect for the former president.