‘It’s a lie’ – Wike’s aide challenges Peter Obi’s ‘I don’t give shishi’ claim

‘It’s a lie’ – Wike’s aide challenges Peter Obi’s ‘I don’t give shishi’ claim

Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, Lere Olayinka, has challenged a claim attributed to Peter Obi that he does not give money to politicians or delegates during election campaigns.

Olayinka described the claim as untrue, alleging that Obi gave money to delegates in Ekiti State when he was still a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and seeking the party’s presidential ticket.

The FCT minister’s aide made the allegation during an interview on AIT’s Democracy Today, where he discussed political campaigns, election spending and the realities of seeking elective office in Nigeria.

Olayinka, who said he previously contested for the House of Representatives and had served as a political delegate, said he personally witnessed Obi allegedly giving money to delegates during the period when the former Anambra State governor was still in the PDP.

“They said that the candidate of the NDC, Peter Obi, does not give ‘shishi,’ it’s a lie. I was a delegate in Ekiti when he was in PDP before going to the Labour Party, he came to Ekiti and dropped money for delegates,” Olayinka said.

The allegation directly challenges the image Obi has cultivated among supporters as a politician who campaigns against excessive political spending and promotes a more frugal approach to politics and governance.

Obi left the PDP in May 2022 and subsequently joined the Labour Party, under which he contested the 2023 presidential election. He is now associated with the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) ahead of the 2027 presidential election.

Olayinka argued that financial resources remain a major component of political contests, particularly during party primaries and election campaigns.

According to him, politicians require money to mobilise supporters, organise campaigns, secure party structures and compete with opponents.

He said political candidates who refuse to deploy financial resources could find themselves at a disadvantage against better-funded contenders.

READ ALSO:

• Osinbajo raises alarm over chemicals in fruits, recalls wife’s orange juice experience
• Lagos: Army rescues two kidnapped farm workers, kills suspected kidnapper
• JAMB Releases Underage UTME Results, Sets Strict Conditions for Admission

“As a politician or a businessman, if your competitor wins, what happens to you? If you are seeking a contract from somewhere and your competitor wins, what happens to you? You will lose out,” Olayinka said.

He also argued that politicians spend money because gaining political power is necessary for candidates who intend to implement their programmes after winning elections.

“You want to serve me, for instance, why do politicians spend money including the US? Don’t politicians spend money on campaigns? They spend money to seek election,” he said.

Olayinka’s comments come amid intensifying political exchanges ahead of the 2027 general election, with supporters of President Bola Tinubu and opposition politicians increasingly debating the viability, credibility and electoral strength of potential challengers.

The FCT minister’s aide has recently stepped up his criticism of Obi and other opposition figures, questioning whether some of the presidential candidates preparing for the 2027 election have sufficient political structures to win a nationwide contest.

In a recent interview with Arise News, Olayinka argued that not all of the presidential candidates preparing for the 2027 election were necessarily contesting with the expectation of winning.

He specifically questioned the electoral strength of the NDC, saying the party lacked sufficient grassroots structures in several states. He argued that a presidential candidate needs a strong organisation at the state, local government and polling-unit levels to effectively compete in a national election. (Arise News)

Olayinka also pointed to the importance of having candidates contesting other elective positions, arguing that the absence of a strong spread of governorship and legislative candidates could make it more difficult for a presidential party to establish an effective election-day structure.

His latest comments therefore form part of a broader political argument over whether Obi and the NDC can build enough nationwide structures to challenge the established political parties in 2027.

Meanwhile, the controversy involving Olayinka has extended beyond his criticism of Obi to questions about the conduct of political interviews.

A separate confrontation reportedly occurred between Olayinka and Arise News presenter Rufai Oseni during a television interview, with the exchange ending abruptly after Olayinka indicated that he would not respond to questions from the presenter.

READ ALSO:

• Delta Police Arrest Minor, Five Others Over Alleged Illicit Drug Sales
• BREAKING: OPay Warns Customers Against Viral Shutdown Message, Threatens Legal Action
• Ghana Launches Marrify App to Let Users Verify Partner’s Marital Status Before Marriage

The incident attracted reactions from commentators, including Dr Sam Amadi, Director of the Abuja School of Social and Political Thought, who called for greater professionalism from both journalists and public officials during political interviews.

Amadi argued that public officials who accept invitations to appear on television programmes should be prepared to answer legitimate questions, while journalists should also conduct interviews in a professional manner and avoid turning political discussions into personal confrontations.

He said the media should focus on obtaining useful information for the public rather than allowing interviews to degenerate into shouting matches.

Amadi also argued that the quality of political discourse ahead of the 2027 elections should extend beyond personality clashes between politicians and journalists.

According to him, issues such as Nigeria’s economy, hunger, insecurity, healthcare, health insurance and the rule of law should receive greater attention as political parties and candidates seek voters’ support.

He said political actors would respond to the issues that voters, the media and influential institutions place at the centre of public debate.

The political scientist further stressed that voters should assess presidential candidates not only on their campaign promises but also on their integrity, credibility and past conduct.

The latest exchange between Olayinka and Obi’s camp comes as political realignments ahead of 2027 continue to reshape Nigeria’s opposition landscape.

Obi’s emergence as a leading opposition figure has generated sustained debate among supporters and critics over his political record, campaign strategy, financial practices and ability to build a nationwide political structure.

For now, Olayinka’s allegation that Obi gave money to delegates in Ekiti remains a claim made by the Wike aide. No independent evidence establishing the alleged payment was presented in the reports reviewed, and Obi or his representatives have not, in the available reports, publicly responded to the specific allegation.

The dispute nevertheless highlights one of the recurring issues likely to dominate the 2027 political campaign: the role of money, political structures, grassroots mobilisation and personal credibility in determining the outcome of Nigeria’s presidential election.

‘It’s a lie’ – Wike’s aide challenges Peter Obi’s ‘I don’t give shishi’ claim