“I Was at the Meeting, Obi Never Offered You Money” – Journalist Replies Adeyanju

Veteran journalist and columnist, Ike Abonyi, has dismissed claims by Human Rights Activist and Lawyer, Deji Adeyanju, that Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, offered him money in exchange for political support.

Abonyi, who said he personally arranged and attended the meeting between Adeyanju and Obi ahead of the 2023 elections, insisted no such offer was made.

In a statement issued in Abuja on Friday, Abonyi described Adeyanju’s recent allegation as false and misleading.

“I was at the meeting Deji had with Obi and was there all through,” Abonyi said. “It was about three hours of frank discussion where Obi shared his life story in and out of government. At no point did Obi offer money. I was shocked reading Deji’s claims, which do not reflect what actually happened.”

He revealed that as far back as July 2022, he had privately cautioned Adeyanju over similar negative comments about Obi, urging him to maintain integrity in his public engagements. According to Abonyi, Adeyanju neither responded to his private messages nor took his calls.

“As a journalist of long standing and as a Christian, I cannot keep quiet and allow falsehood to thrive,” Abonyi said. “No money was offered during or after the meeting. Adeyanju has every right to withdraw his support from Obi, but not on the basis of untruths.”

He recalled that Adeyanju once openly described Obi as the best candidate in the race and even encouraged him to leave the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to pursue his ambition elsewhere.

“Changing one’s political stance is a personal choice,” Abonyi added, “but it should not be justified with false claims.”