Says nobody has given me anything
Presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, has denied receipt of $150m of Diaspora funding. He stated on Tuesday that “Nobody has given me anything.”
A support group known as the Tinubu-Shettima Connect had alleged that Obi was being funded by foreign sources and urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to disqualify him for violating the Electoral Act on campaign funding.
But speaking during a meeting with Nigerians in London, the former Anambra state governor said the allegations were based on mere speculation.
“That is speculation. What I need is not what they would give me. But what they would give Nigeria, because we need them to turn around Nigeria.
“This is the energy, the capacity that we need to turn around Nigeria. Every country that was turned around, was done by the Diaspora. Even in the Bible, Joseph who left later came back to feed his people.”
Obi has been meeting with Nigerians across the world in recent days, travelling through Europe and the United States.
He has also clarified that his meetings were not part of campaign activities.
“It is not campaign, it is consultation,” he said.
“I am consulting Nigeria Diasporans to know why they should be involved in the Nigerian electoral process. And you can see from my conversation and everything that what I am doing is saying let’s get involved.
“They are the most critical components of turning around Nigeria. The investment Nigeria needs to turn around is Diasporans. If they believe in Nigeria and bring their resources, both in terms of their material, talent and energy, we will turn around the country.”
Obi, whose support base among the youth who call themselves Obidients is the talk of the town, asked that the 2023 elections be based on merit and not on religion or ethnicity.
“Nigeria 2023 election should not be based on ethnicity, religion, connection, ‘my turn’, or any bias.
“It must be on character, competence, capacity and determination to deal with the problems of Nigeria.”
