Peter Obi Refutes ₦225 Billion Debt Claim, Denies Meeting Tinubu in Rome

Former Anambra State Governor and 2023 Labour Party Presidential Candidate, Peter Obi, has refuted recent blackmail claims tying him to a ₦225 billion debt crisis involving Fidelity Bank and a supposed secret meeting with President Bola Tinubu in Rome.

In a strongly-worded statement shared on social media, Obi described the allegations as “baseless, malicious, and entirely false,” accusing political blackmailers of deliberately twisting his recent spiritual trip to Rome into a propaganda campaign.

No Private Meeting with President Tinubu, Says Obi

Clarifying his movements, Peter Obi stated that he had traveled to Rome solely to attend the lying-in-state of Pope Francis on May 9, followed by a short stop in London before returning to Nigeria.

He acknowledged seeing President Tinubu briefly at the Vatican’s Saint Peter’s Basilica during the inauguration Mass of Pope Leo XIV, but emphasized that their encounter lasted no more than a minute. “I respectfully greeted him and other dignitaries present,” Obi said, denying any private meeting with the President.

Fidelity Bank Allegations Are False

Obi also addressed widespread rumors linking him to a ₦225 billion debt crisis at Fidelity Bank. Dismissing claims that he owns the financial institution, he clarified that while he had served as a chairman/director at three banks — including Fidelity — he holds no ownership stake.

“Fidelity has over 500,000 shareholders, none of whom hold a majority stake,” he said, stressing that misleading narratives were designed to “harm hard-working Nigerians and cause them needless distress.”

Obi Slams Political Blackmailers

Peter Obi criticized those he referred to as “merchants paid ostensibly to propagate anything negative against Obi,” calling out what he described as a coordinated effort to discredit his image.

“To those peddling these falsehoods, and engaging in blackmail, I offer a simple prayer: May God grant you the virtues of gratitude and understanding,” he wrote.

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It’s obvious that the biggest business for blackmailers now is talking about Peter Obi from every negative perspective. Even my solemn spiritual trip to Rome has been twisted into yet another blackmail campaign by merchants paid ostensibly to propagate anything negative against Obi.

One such individual, whose entire life revolves around blackmail, falsely claimed that I went to Rome to have a private meeting with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu regarding a purported ₦225 billion debt crisis involving Fidelity Bank. These claims are not only baseless, malicious, but entirely false.

Let me categorically state that I have never sought an audience with, nor met, President Tinubu since he assumed office, except about 1 minute meeting at the arena of Saint Peter’s Basilica Rome during the inauguration Mass of Pope Leo XIV, where I was seated behind, and had to respectfully greet him, and other dignitaries present. 

I was previously in Rome on the 9th of May for the lying in state of Pope Francis. Immediately after the mass and exchanging pleasantries, I went straight from Vatican City to London, and then back to Nigeria.

The self-proclaimed “blackmailer-in-chief” and others who thrive on spreading pain and falsehoods have also claimed that I own Fidelity Bank. For the record, I do not. Throughout my career, I have served as Chairman/Director of 3 banks/Financial institutions, of which Fidelity is one of them. Fidelity has over 500,000 shareholders, none of whom hold a majority stake. What this blackmailer seeks is to harm these hard-working Nigerians and cause them needless distress.

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, that they cannot profit from their evil ways.

A new Nigeria is POssible.

– PO