Former Labour Party presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi, has pushed back against reports alleging that he travelled to Rome to hold a private meeting with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu over a ₦225 billion debt crisis involving Fidelity Bank.
Obi, in a statement shared via his official social media account, confirmed he exchanged brief pleasantries with President Tinubu during a Mass at Saint Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican. He stressed that the encounter was coincidental and not a pre-arranged or political meeting as claimed in the reports.
“The only time I have seen or spoken to President Tinubu since he took office was for about one minute during the inauguration Mass of Pope Leo XIV. I greeted him and other dignitaries respectfully, as was appropriate,” he said.
He explained that his visit to Rome on May 9 was to attend the lying-in-state of Pope Francis, after which he traveled to London and returned to Nigeria. Obi described attempts to link his spiritual journey to political dealings as part of a broader campaign of blackmail aimed at discrediting him.
He also addressed claims suggesting he owns Fidelity Bank or is involved in financial dealings connected to the alleged debt. Obi clarified that while he once served as a board member of the bank, he has no ownership interest and does not hold shares in it.
“Fidelity Bank has over 500,000 shareholders, and no single individual holds a majority stake. I do not own the bank,” he stated.
Obi condemned the spread of what he termed “deliberate falsehoods,” warning that such narratives not only target him personally but also risk causing distress to ordinary Nigerians invested in the financial institution.
He concluded by calling for a more responsible public discourse and extended a prayer for understanding and reflection among those who resort to blackmail.
Obi reaffirmed his continued hope for the progress of the country, restating that a new Nigeria is possible.
