Again, Obi speaks on leaked audio with Oyedepo

The presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the just-concluded election, Peter Obi, has again debunked the audio clip featuring him and the founder of Living Faith Church Worldwide, popularly known as Winners Chapel, Bishop David Oyedepo.

Obi had earlier said the audio clip was fake, adding that he never declared the 2023 general election as a religious war.

The LP presidential standard bearer stressed that the viral audio was one of the attempts made by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Federal Government to manipulate Nigerians.

Obi had, in the viral audio clip, urged Oyedepo to speak to the Christians in the South-West geopolitical zone and Kwara State to vote for him in the February 25, 2023, presidential election.

He was also heard describing the presidential poll as a “religious war”.

Oyedepo, in his reaction, said he never campaigned for any politician or spoken on their behalf in the build-up to the 2023 general election in the country.

The cleric stated that all political parties sought his prayers and advice before the elections, stressing that he advised the politicians.

Speaking in an interview with Arise TV on Monday, May 1, Obi said: “Whatever anybody wants to make of it is fine with me, but all I can tell you is that I am not a religious or a tribal bigot.”

He stressed that he couldn’t have been a religious or tribal bigot and kept his Aide-De-Camp (ADC) when he was Anambra State Governor, a Muslim from Kano, ditto the state police commissioner.

Obi further repeated the statement of the Muslim community in Anambra State who confirmed during the Eid-el-Fitr that he helped them to rebuild their damaged mosque and remained the only non-Muslim governor who sent Muslims to hajj.

The former governor added he is not desperate to be President of Nigeria but he is desperate to see a better Nigeria that the citizens will be proud of.

On his mood ahead of the May 29 inauguration, Obi said nothing changes in his mood, stressing that he and his supporters remain steadfast and focused on expectations of justice.

The Star

Segun Ojo