Former presidential candidate and Labour Party leader, Mr. Peter Obi, has strongly condemned what he described as a calculated campaign of blackmail targeted at discrediting his character and public service record. In a statement issued on Wednesday, Obi addressed what he called “malicious and entirely false claims” surrounding his recent spiritual trip to Rome.
Obi expressed dismay that his solemn journey to the Vatican was twisted by “merchants paid ostensibly to propagate anything negative against him.” One such individual, whom he referred to as a “self-proclaimed blackmailer-in-chief,” alleged that Obi traveled to Rome for a clandestine meeting with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in connection with a supposed ₦225 billion debt crisis involving Fidelity Bank.
“These claims are not only baseless and malicious but entirely false,” Obi stated. “I have never sought an audience with, nor met, President Tinubu since he assumed office—except for about one minute at the arena of Saint Peter’s Basilica during the inauguration Mass of Pope Leo XIV. I was seated behind and had to respectfully greet him and other dignitaries present.”
The former Anambra State governor clarified that his Rome visit on May 9 was to attend the lying-in-state of Pope Francis. He added that after the Mass and customary pleasantries, he traveled directly to London and then returned to Nigeria.
Obi also refuted longstanding allegations that he owns Fidelity Bank, asserting, “For the record, I do not own Fidelity Bank. I have served as Chairman or Director of three banks or financial institutions during my career, one of which is Fidelity. The bank has over 500,000 shareholders—none of whom hold a majority stake.”
He emphasized that those spreading such falsehoods aim to harm both his reputation and the livelihoods of ordinary Nigerians invested in the financial institution. “What this blackmailer seeks is to harm these hard-working Nigerians and cause them needless distress,” he said.
Concluding his statement, Obi offered a prayer for his detractors: “May God grant you the virtues of gratitude and understanding to know that we came here with nothing and will go with nothing, and that you cannot profit from your evil ways.”
He reaffirmed his enduring message of hope, stating, “A new Nigeria is POssible.”
