The camp of Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 election has disclosed that some of Obi’s associates in the banking and business sector are avoiding him in public due to fear of retribution from President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
Moses Paul, an aide to Obi, made the disclosure in an interview with Rudolf Okonkwo on 90MinutesAfrica.
Paul recounted a recent incident in Kigali, Rwanda, where Aliko Dangote and other Nigerian businessmen deliberately avoided Obi during a conference.
He said: “There was an occasion when I travelled to Rwanda with Mr. Peter Obi. Alhaji Aliko Dangote was in Kigali to hold a conference alongside lots of top Nigerian businessmen and bankers.
“You will not believe that people who were friends with Peter Obi in the banking sector were dodging and avoiding being seen with him because of fear of retribution from the Tinubu government against them or their businesses.
“It’s shocking that in the 21st century, people are afraid to be seen with an opposition leader because of fear of what the government of the day will do. This shouldn’t be coming from a country like Nigeria that is the only future of the black man on the face of the earth.”
Obi was the second runner-up in the election in 2023, behind Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and the eventual winner Bola Tinubu of the All Progressive Congress (APC).