Nigerian political economy expert and Labour Party (LP) chieftain has reacted to reports that he received funds from the president-elect, Bola Tinubu, to fund LP’s Peter Obi campaign in a bid to weaken the chance of Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
NewsWireNGR reports that Tawfiq Akinwale, Oyo governorship candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 elections, alleged that Tinubu asked Pat Utomi to relinquish the presidential ticket to Peter Obi.
Speaking during a radio programme on 101.7 YES FM, in Ibadan, the Oyo capital, Akiwale said President-elect Tinubu asked “Utomi to step down for Obi to become the standard bearer of the LP”, adding that the “objective was to reduce the chances of Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 elections”.
Reacting, Pat Utomi in a series of tweet on Friday denied the rumour while noting, “Only material transfer from BAT to me in 25yrs we have known is $2000 for MIT event”.
He tweeted; “World of ironies. Last week I participated in a program of the Deliberative Democracy Lab of Standford University’s Center on Democracy, Development and Rule of Law on disinformation in social media unaware I was ongoing victim of disinformation in Nigeria.
“Some fellow pulling up a 9 year old video from an Ileya visit claimed the know of conduit of money through me to PO to uend Atiku. 1st, have had no direct or indirect contact with BAT in 4 years. Only material transfer from BAT to me in 25yrs we have known is $2000 for MIT event.
“In truth I have been much closer to Waziri Atiku who I first met in 1983 and wrote the feasibility for his farm a year later. I have served on the Board of his university, AUN. Only a warped or misinformed mind would invent such disinformation.
“As for funding PO I cannot but be amazed at this disinformation. The outpouring of resources of citizens in support groups and PO’s prudent draw on his own purse was so humbling I even turned to ODs to fund my own activities in support of the campaign for faith in saving Nigeria.
“Truly if any flow from BAT came to me II would quickly withdraw money I spent at his urging in 2007 paid to international PR agency for an Orange revolution type campaign to stop 3rd term but not refunded. Details are in book I wrote 4 years ago. It would have helped my cash flow.
“I entered the 2023 campaigns to build a Third Force to break the race to the bottom and press a reset knob for Nigeria. Stayed elevated with issues and denounced calumnies. Yet some have waged disinformation and calumny campaigns aimed at me. I will continue to refuse to descend.”
