The Presidency has dismissed allegations by former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, that the Federal Government is targeting him and frustrating his activities, describing the claims as false, misleading and lacking credible evidence.
Obi had raised concerns during an interview on With Chude, hosted by media personality Chude Jideonwo, saying he could not be certain he would be alive to participate in the 2027 presidential election because of what he described as sustained efforts by the government to undermine him.
A clip of the interview was shared by Jideonwo on his verified X account on Wednesday.
Speaking on the possibility of contesting the next presidential election, the former Anambra State governor said the challenges confronting him had become so intense that he feared for his safety.
“Not even a candidate. I might not even be alive. I’m telling you. Every single thing I do for a living, this government is frustrating it.
Deliberately so. Everything. So, there is even a possibility, if they have the opportunity, I will not be alive,” Obi said.
Responding in a statement on Wednesday, the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, rejected Obi’s claims, insisting that neither the Federal Government nor President Bola Tinubu’s administration was targeting the former governor.
Onanuga also dismissed Obi’s recent complaints about an alleged incident involving his vehicle at an airport and his claim that opposition figures were being deliberately frustrated, describing them as baseless.
He accused Obi of consistently making unfounded allegations to attract public sympathy.
“As a pathological and serial liar, Mr Obi is intent on dragging the government into every personal inconvenience he encounters, often resorting to exaggeration and baseless allegations.
“His claim that he may not be alive for the January 2027 election and that people are being pressured not to invite him to social events is nothing more than a fabricated narrative, a page from his book of lies and propaganda.
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“These claims lack substance and are designed to attract undue sympathy and deflect attention from his credibility deficit and the problems faced by his SPV and his adopted political association, the NDC,” Onanuga stated.
The presidential spokesman also addressed claims that the government was allegedly targeting Fidelity Bank, in which Obi is widely reported to have substantial interests.
According to Onanuga, the bank continues to perform well under the current administration’s economic reforms, adding that there was no basis for suggesting that it was under any form of government persecution.
“It is important to note that Mr Obi has a substantial interest in Fidelity Bank. The institution continues to thrive as a result of the current administration’s robust economic reforms.
“The government is certainly not targeting the bank. Rather than being ‘haunted’ by the government, Mr Obi appears to be grappling with the consequences of his litany of unfounded statements,” he said.
Onanuga maintained that the Tinubu administration remains focused on implementing economic reforms aimed at improving the welfare of Nigerians and has no interest in engaging in political distractions.
“The Tinubu government remains fully focused on consolidating its historic and beneficial reforms for the good of all Nigerians.
It has neither the time nor the inclination to be distracted by Mr Obi’s self-serving narratives and lies or by his candidacy, as he constantly diminishes himself with specious, unverifiable utterances,” the statement added.