Oseloka Obi, son of the presidential candidate of the Labour party(LP) in the 2023 general elections, Peter Obi, has responded to critics of viral pictures of him with London-based British-Nigerian gay rights activist Kent Okwesa.
The photos, taken at a restaurant, show the two sitting closely together, sparking speculation and debate online.
In a statement on Thursday, Oseloka Obi emphasized that his profession in theatre and filmmaking involves interacting with people from diverse backgrounds, including those with different sexualities and identities. He believes the viral photos are being used to spread false narratives about him and his father, Peter Obi.
Oseloka Obi stated that “individuals opposed to my father seize ordinary photos of me and repackage them with false stories.” He noted that this pattern of behavior reveals more about the pettiness of those spreading such narratives than it does about him or his father.
Oseloka noted that Nigeria faces more significant challenges, such as insecurity, economic struggles, and failing infrastructure, rather than speculation about his personal life. He urged Nigerians to focus on more pressing issues affecting the country.
In his words, “More importantly, Nigeria has far greater issues than idle speculation about what Peter Obi’s son is doing. Our nation still struggles with insecurity, a weakened economy, crumbling infrastructure, failing healthcare, and politicians who steal from the people they swore to serve. And yet, for some, the priority is to spread gossip about who Peter Obi’s son appears with in a photo.”
This is not the first time Oseloka has faced scrutiny over his associations. In January 2024, he was featured on the cover of UK Gay Times, sparking controversy and debate online.
