Deji Adeyanju lied, Peter Obi didn’t offer him ‘shi-shi’ — Ike Abonyi

Renowned journalist, author, and columnist, Ike Abonyi, has dismissed allegations by Human Rights Activist and Lawyer, Deji Adeyanju, that Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate in the 2023 elections, Peter Obi, attempted to buy his support.

In a statement issued in Abuja on Friday, Abonyi clarified that he personally brokered and attended the meeting between Obi and Adeyanju ahead of the 2023 polls, stressing that no such offer of money was ever made.

Abonyi, who described Adeyanju as a friend, said he found the activist’s claims disturbing and untrue.

“I am at pains joining issues with a friend in public, but at this instance, I cannot keep mum and allow untruths to thrive. My friend Deji Adeyanju just tweeted that why he stopped supporting the Labour Party’s presidential candidate, Mr Peter Obi, was when he told him that he invested Anambra State money in his family business.

“I was at the meeting Deji had with Obi and was there all through. After about three hours of frank discussion in which Obi narrated his life story in and out of government, none of which was new, I was shocked to my marrow reading from Deji what I did not hear,” Abonyi wrote.

Abonyi further revealed that as far back as July 2022, he had expressed concern over Adeyanju’s public criticism of Obi, including a post suggesting that the former Anambra governor could accept an appointment from then–APC candidate, Bola Tinubu.

“My brother, when did it get to this point? Obi is not looking for a job that Tinubu will be offering. As my friend, if you no longer believe in the Obi project, I encourage you to stay on issues that will enhance your own reputation,” Abonyi recalled writing to Adeyanju at the time.

The journalist noted that his attempts to engage Adeyanju privately over his remarks had been ignored, as the activist neither responded to his messages nor took his calls.

“As a journalist of long standing and as a Christian, I don’t need to be an Obi-centric person to resolve issues that border on facts and falsehood. No money was offered during or after the meeting, and there was no promise of any to the best of my knowledge,” he said.

Abonyi also pointed out that Adeyanju had in the past publicly declared Obi as the best candidate and even encouraged him to leave the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to pursue his ambition on another platform.

“He is free to do a U-turn in supporting him, depending on what appeals to him, but should not base that on what is not true,” Abonyi added.