Moses Paul, an aide to Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, has shared reasons why some of Obi’s former colleagues in the banking and business sectors are keeping their distance.
According to Paul, the concern over possible retaliation from President Bola Tinubu’s administration has led many of Obi’s associates to avoid being seen with him in public.
Paul mentioned this during an interview on 90MinutesAfrica.
He recounted a recent event in Kigali, Rwanda, where Peter Obi attended a gathering alongside prominent Nigerian businessmen, including Aliko Dangote.
Paul noted that many of Obi’s friends from the banking sector avoided him during the event, allegedly out of fear of government actions that could affect their businesses.
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.”
