Omokri had alleged that Peter Obi funded the funeral of Mr Oseni’s father by giving him money in cash or via electronic means.
Peter Obi, the candidate of the Labour Party (LP), in the 2023 presidential election, has described the allegation that he bribed Rufai Oseni, a Nigerian television presenter as malicious and cheap blackmail.
A former aide to ex-president Goodluck Jonathan, Reno Omokri had alleged that Peter Obi funded the funeral of Mr Oseni’s father by giving him money in cash or via electronic means.
Omokri on his social media handles on Friday accused Oseni of open bias in favour of Peter Obi, noting that Mr. Oseni used the AriseTV platform as a medium to campaign for and launder the image of Obi.
Omokri also accused Obi of having undisguised animosity towards him for his refusal to support Obi’s presidential ambition.
“AriseTV and Mr Rufai Oseni should kindly answer the following question. Did Mr Peter Obi, the Presidential candidate of the Labour Party, fund the funeral of Mr Rufai Oseni’s father by giving him money in cash or via electronic means, either directly or through a third party, in August 2022, and has that influenced Mr. Oseni’s open bias in favour of Peter Obi, whereby Mr. Oseni use the AriseTV platform as a medium to campaign for and launder the image of Mr Peter Obi, and his undisguised personal animosity towards me for my refusal to support Mr Peter Obi’s Presidential ambition?
“I counsel them to think very carefully before they answer,” Omokri had said.
However, Mr. Obi in a statement on X (formerly Twitter) on Monday, denied that he gave anyone money to promote his name, adding that he had never monetarily induced any journalist to speak or write in his favour.
He said he was committed to finding solutions to the challenges facing Nigeria and that he would not be distracted by “evil endeavours”.
He, however, did not state whether he gave Oseni money strictly for the burial or at another time, without the intention of inducing him to write or speak in his favour as alleged by Omokri.
Omokri’s allegation was that such a gift could have influenced Oseni “open bias in favour of Peter Obi”.
He wrote, “Ordinarily, I do not get involved in name-calling and mud-slinging. Neither do I attack people nor try to defame their personalities in the course of my political journey.
“I have also avoided replying to cheap, wicked or malicious blackmail publicly or privately in the same irresponsible manner that they are thrown at me. Anyone who has followed my corporate and political life knows that I always stay on issues, with my focus on finding solutions to societal challenges and ameliorating the suffering of the people.
“I do however need to clarify a few issues, especially since a third party is involved. There is a recent case where my name has been mentioned in a malicious and cheap blackmail against one of Nigeria’s best Television presenters, Mr. Rufai Oseni, who has stood sternly for what is right and has challenged me fearlessly on some occasions while speaking truth to power. I have recently been mentioned to have bribed Mr. Rufai Oseni by financially sponsoring the burial of his father.
“Let me clearly state that this is a categorical lie. It is not true, cannot be true and will never be true. Everyone who understands or follows my approach to things will attest to the fact that I do not give anyone money to promote my name.
“I have never and will never monetarily induce any journalist to speak or write in my favour. When I am invited to birthday celebrations or funerals, people know that I do attend. Countless journalists, media personnel, the less privileged, the wealthy etc., have all invited me to their occasions, and they will attest to the fact that I honour such invitations, especially when people are grieving. I have never been to Rufai’s village. Even at the point of writing this, I do not know where he is from.
“One then wonders why people could decide to tarnish other people’s image for no justifiable reason. To those involved in such evil endeavours, I wish them well and pray that God will have mercy on them.
“I still maintain that our focus in Nigeria should be on rescuing our dear Nation from the many challenges plaguing it. We should focus more on lifting people out of poverty. Millions of Nigerians do not know where their next meal will come from.
“We have millions of unemployed youths in their productive age with very little production going on in Nigeria to create jobs. Finding solutions to these challenges should command our attention, for the progress of our dear nation, Nigeria – and that is what I remain committed to. A New Inclusive and Sustainable Nigeria is POssible!” he added.
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