The presidential candidate of the Labour Party, LP, Mr. Peter Obi, has denied offering N40 billion to the standard bearer of the New Nigeria Peoples Party, NNPP, Alhaji Rabiu Kwankwaso, to step down for him.
Obi made this clarification on Monday at an interactive forum with the Nigerian Guild of Editors, NGE, in Lagos.
“I never knowingly or unknowingly, offered anybody money to become president. In all my talks with Kwankwaso, I never offered him any money”, he said.
The former Anambra governor also clarified that nobody was funding his campaigns. “Nobody as at today will say he’s funding Peter Obi. I’m funding myself. I don’t pay people to work for me.”
Speaking further on what the people should consider while making their voting choices, Obi said: “Nepotism is a higher corruption than bribery. Next election is not about tribe or religion. Tribalism and religion are the confusion the elites deploy to deceive the people.
“Please, don’t vote for me because I’m an Igbo or because it’s my turn. I’m a Nigerian contesting election as a Nigerian. So, scrutinize all of us and verify what we have done in the past. Nigerians should vote for a character they can trust, competence and ability to start doing the right thing.
“The job of a leader is provide solutions and not excuses. If elected, I will not give excuses but results. Therefore, I want Nigerians to hold me responsible if anything is not going well under my leadership”, he stated.