Nobody funding my presidential campaign – Peter Obi

The Presidential Candidate of Labour Party (LP), Mr. Peter Obi, has said that contrary to insinuations, no one else was funding his campaign.

He also denied allegation that he gave money for people to step down for him.

Obi spoke on Monday in Lagos during an interaction with the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE).

“As of today, nobody will say he is the one funding Peter Obi. I am funding myself. At some point, people said they have given me $150 million. I have not seen it. But if it comes, I will take it and we will manage it very efficiently.

“I am happy to set up a team to oversee all donations and support to our campaign. This team is headed by a number of people and that is what brought Aisha Yesufu to what we are doing.

“I cannot be talking about being transparent about managing public money without starting with my campaign.

“All those things happening everywhere are just that people believe in our cause and give whatever it is from their little resources.

“I am encouraged, and I assure them that they are doing it for the right cause and I will never disappoint them,” he said.

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Obi also refuted allegation that he offered another presidential candidate, Rabiu Kwankwaso, money to step down for him in the failed merger talks.

He said: “I have never knowingly or unknowingly offered anybody N1 and I will not do so in order to become the president. I am not saying I’m not going to spend money for a campaign, buy lunch for people and everything.

“But I have never in all my talks with Kwankwaso offered him anything.”

On Nigeria’s debt profile, Obi said that there was nothing wrong in borrowing.

“Every nation borrows, individual businesses borrow all over the world.

“What is important is what we use the borrowed money to do. If you borrow for consumption, that is where we have a problem.”

He said that borrowed money should be invested well to increase the country’s gross domestic product and per capita income.

“I won’t say I will not borrow but I will only borrow for investment and I will explain to Nigerians the need for the borrowing,” he added.

Promising to reduce the nation’s debt burden, Obi pledged to eliminate all wastes and rascality, if elected.

The Star