Obi Denounces ‘Blackmail Campaign’ Over Rome Trip, Denies Meeting with Tinubu, Fidelity Bank Ownership.

Former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi has vehemently denied allegations of a secret meeting with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in Rome, as well as claims of owning Fidelity Bank, calling the accusations part of a larger “blackmail campaign” orchestrated by political opponents.

Obi addressed the circulating rumours on Tuesday via his X (formerly Twitter) handle, dismissing them as “baseless, malicious, and entirely false.”

A prominent political commentator claimed Obi used his recent trip to Rome to secretly meet with President Tinubu to discuss a ₦225 billion debt crisis at Fidelity Bank, sparking an online frenzy.

The commentator, known for his controversial views and large online following, also claimed that Obi owned stakes in the bank, which Obi has previously denied.

In his statement, Obi strongly refuted these allegations, stating, “Let me categorically state that I have never sought an audience with, nor met, President Tinubu since he assumed office, except for a brief meeting in the arena of Saint Peter’s Basilica Rome during Pope Leo XIV’s inauguration Mass, where I was seated behind, and had to respectfully greet him, and other dignitaries present.”

He went on to explain that his visit to Rome on May 9th was for Pope Francis’s lying in state, and that he had immediately left for London and then Nigeria following the mass and customary greetings.

“Even my solemn spiritual trip to Rome has been twisted into yet another blackmail campaign by merchants paid ostensibly to propagate anything negative about Obi,” he lamented, emphasising the increasingly hostile environment he perceives surrounding his political activities.

Obi addressed the rumours about his involvement with Fidelity Bank directly, stating that while he has served as Chairman/Director of three banks/financial institutions, including Fidelity, he does not own the bank.

“Fidelity has over 500,000 shareholders, but none of them owns a majority stake. “What this blackmailer seeks is to harm these hard-working Nigerians and cause them unnecessary distress,” he stated.

The allegations have been widely disseminated on various social media platforms, eliciting a range of reactions from both supporters and critics.

Some have echoed Obi’s claims of a smear campaign, citing a pattern of misinformation targeting his persona.

Others remain sceptical, demanding more transparency and accountability.

Fidelity Bank has yet to issue an official statement regarding the rumours of a debt crisis and Obi’s alleged ownership.

Attempts to contact bank representatives for comment were unsuccessful at the time of publication.

Political analysts believe that the timing of these allegations timely as 2027 presidential election and rising economic anxiety, is not coincidental..

Obi ended his statement with a message of hope and a call to integrity, saying, “To those peddling these lies 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 leave with nothing, that they cannot profit from their evil ways.”

The controversy highlights the growing concern about the spread of misinformation and the weaponisation of social media in Nigerian politics.

To combat the spread of fake news and malicious campaigns, experts recommend that citizens improve their media literacy and critical thinking skills.