The presidential candidate of the Labour party (LP) in the 2023 general elections, Peter Obi, has strongly denied reports alleging a secret meeting with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in Rome over a purported ₦225 billion debt crisis involving Fidelity Bank.
TheNewsGuru reports that the former Anambra governor, in a statement issued on Thursday, described the claims as baseless, malicious, and entirely false.
The presidential candidate claimed that the allegations were part of a blackmail campaign designed to damage his reputation
He said, “It is now clear that the biggest business for blackmailers is to attack me from every negative angle imaginable.
“Even my recent solemn spiritual journey to Rome has been twisted into yet another blackmail campaign by merchants seemingly paid to propagate anything negative against me.”
Obi further denied the claims made by what he called a “self-proclaimed blackmailer-in-chief,” who alleged that he travelled to Rome to meet President Tinubu in connection with Fidelity Bank.
“One such individual, whose life appears consumed by blackmail, falsely alleged that I travelled to Rome to hold a private meeting with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu regarding a purported ₦225 billion debt crisis involving Fidelity Bank,” he said. “These claims are not only baseless and malicious, but entirely false.”
Clarifying his movements, Obi explained that he was in Rome on May 9th to attend the lying-in -state of Pope Francis and later returned to Nigeria via London.
“Let me state categorically: I have never sought an audience with, nor met, President Tinubu since he assumed office—except for a brief moment, lasting no more than a minute, at the arena of Saint Peter’s Basilica in Rome during the inauguration Mass of Pope Leo XIV,” Obi stated. “I was seated behind and, out of respect, greeted him and other dignitaries present.”
The former governor also addressed claims that he owns Fidelity Bank.
“For the record, I do not own Fidelity Bank,” he clarified. “Throughout my career, I have served as Chairman or Director of three banks or financial institutions, including Fidelity. Fidelity has over 500,000 shareholders, none of whom holds a majority stake.”
Obi condemned what he described as deliberate efforts to destabilize and cause distress to hardworking Nigerians through lies and blackmail.
“What this blackmailer seeks is to harm these hardworking Nigerians and cause them needless distress,” he said.
“To those peddling these falsehoods, and engaging in blackmail, I offer a simple prayer: May God grant you the virtues of gratitude and understanding to know that we came here with nothing and will go with nothing.”
Although, the former governor did not mention names, one of those who posted that he went to Rome to meet the president is the former social media aide to President Goodluck Jonathan, Reno Omokri.
![Peter Obi meets President Tinubu at the Vatican, beams with laughter [PHOTOS]](https://thenewsguru.ng/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Screenshot-2025-05-18-at-19.42.30.png)
