Politics

“Blackmail” — Obi Campaign, CAN Debunk Rumours Of N2bn Mobilisation Fee

Published

2 years ago

Feb 13, 2023.

A petition claiming that Peter Obi’s presidential campaign gave N2 billion mobilisation fee to CAN recently circulated on social media.
The campaign described claims in the petition as “blackmail stuff” and denied its candidate gave out any money to mobilise people to vote for him.
The Christian body also denied that it was unaware of churches receiving the alleged amount.

Eko Hot Blog reports that the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has denied being the beneficiary of N2 billion allegedly given to churches the presidential candidate of Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi.

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A petition circulating on social media had claimed that Obi gave N2 billion to churches through CAN to help mobilise their congregation to vote for him.

However, in a statement on Sunday, the CAN president, Daniel Okoh, denied the claim, noting that it was a “failed” attempt to drag the nonpartisan Christian body into politics.

Notwithstanding, Okoh said the association will investigate the source of the petition in the interest of the public.

The CAN president stated that the body will not endorse or mobilise support for any candidate.

“The attention of the National leadership of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has been drawn to a purported letter currently in circulation on social media, alleging that a certain sum of N2bn was given by the presidential candidate of Labour party, Mr Peter Obi to Churches under the umbrella of CAN,” the statement reads.

“I use this medium to categorically state that the so-called letter of petition reportedly signed by one Pastor Frank Onwumere and addressed to my office is illogical and can best be described as a failed attempt to drag the apex Christian body into the politics of 2023.

“However, we will investigate the source of the letter in the interest of the public.

“To set the records straight, I am not aware of any N2bn given to Churches in Nigeria to mobilise votes for any 2023 presidential candidate and never received the said petition dated December 22, 2022.

“Nigerians should note that CAN, as a faith-based entity, maintains its non-partisan stance and will not endorse or mobilise support for any candidate in the upcoming elections as against the social media post being circulated by some elements bent on soiling its name and image

“CAN, therefore, urges members of the public to disregard the purported letter of petition as its content are not only untrue, but malicious.

“We warn those peddling the falsehood to desist from such acts because they are capable of defaming innocent people and revered religious institutions as well as breaching public peace.”

Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi

Meanwhile the Obi-Datti campaign team has also dismissed the alleged petition, describing it as “blackmail stuff.”

In a statement by the campaign’s media office on Sunday, it said the petition was “concocted to tarnish the hard-earned reputation” of the party’s presidential candidate.

The campaign also asked the public to disregard the petition.

“Our mission in the Obidient Movement this day is to alert and warn discerning minds, especially those desirous to see a new Nigeria emerge through Peter Obi, to ignore and treat as thrash any doctored and faked items on Obi,” the statement reads.

“Anything they are bringing now after their long fruitless search is concocted to tarnish the hard-earned reputation of the candidate and should be disregarded.

“Obi-Datti Media is proud to insist that the LP standard bearer and his running mate remain the best product in the market for the much-needed political leadership in the country at this time, and to state without any fear of contradiction that they stand out untainted and possess the prerequisite qualities needed to rescue this troubled land.