NewStats: 3,259,360 , 8,169,900 topics. Date: Saturday, 24 May 2025 at 06:59 PM p163q

Two candidates in the last presidential election, Peter Obi and Omoyele Sowore, have thrown jibes at each other, calling each other derogatory names.

None of the two politicians mentioned each other’s names in their posts on X, on Thursday, but a review of their posts and the history behind them indicated who they were referring to.

Mr Obi threw the first salvo when he described Mr Sowore, publisher of Sahara Reporters, as a “blackmailer” and “self-proclaimed ‘ blackmailer-in-chief” in response to a story published by Sahara Reporters.

The platform had claimed that Mr Obi’s recent meeting with President Bola Tinubu in Rome was to allow the opposition leader to plead with the president on behalf of Fidelity Bank, a bank Mr Obi once led.

TIMES reported that Mr Obi and President Tinubu met coincidentally at a Vatican event for Pope Leo XIV.

In his post on X, Mr Obi denied seeking a meeting with Mr Tinubu to discuss Fidelity Bank. The former Anambra State governor said the only time he encountered the president was in a brief moment during the inauguration mass of Pope Leo XIV at Saint Peter’s Basilica.

“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,” Mr Obi wrote.

“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,” he added.

In his response about two hours later, Mr Sowore described Mr Obi as a “Money Launderer-In-Chief” in reference to an exclusive TIMES story that showed that Mr Obi violated Nigerian laws in his business dealings as the owner of NEXT.

The revelation was part of the Pandora Papers , a global collaboration between investigative newsrooms and journalists that TIMES was part of.

Mr Obi was one of the few Nigerians indicted in the Pandora Papers reporting.

“I heard the “Money Launderer-In-Chief” at Pandora Papers and packaged fraud has fabricated another story this morning about the reason his elder brothers bounced him during his ill-fated visit to Rome,” Mr Sowore wrote.

Mr Obi was the candidate of the Labour Party during the 2023 presidential election while Mr Sowore ran under the platform of the African Action Congress (AAC).

As one of the 18 candidates on the ballot in the 2023 election, Mr Sowore finished the race in 16th place with only 14,608 votes, less than half of the 33,953 votes he scored when he contested in 2019.

Mr Obi won over 6.1 million votes in the last presidential election, finishing third behind the winner, Bola Tinubu, and Atiku Abubakar, Nigeria’s perennial opposition candidate.

While Mr Obi was a member of Nigeria’s former ruling party, now opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party, Mr Sowore has been on a different platform with the Nigerian political establishment since the current democratic dispensation.

The duo campaign against corruption, advocate for inclusion of young people in government, and their political campaigns have been driven by a multitude of online followers. In the last election, Mr Obi got endorsements from well-known figures including former president Olusegun Obasanjo, author Chimamanda Adichie, singer Peter PSquare, actress Kate Henshaw and several others.

While Mr Sowore stood against the idea of forming alliance with major Nigerian politicians, Mr Obi is believed to be in talks with other major opposition political parties ahead of the 2027 election.

https://www.timesng.com/news/headlines/796045-updated-peter-obi-omoyele-sowore-attack-each-other-in-verbal-combat.html

As political contestants, one expects peter Obi and Sowore to verbally tackle each other, from time to time, based on issues.

Again, as an opposition politician, one also expects Sowore to always beam lights on the policies of the current FG but he is rather focused on another opposition politician Peter Obi.

His recent incessant and obsessive attacks on the person of Peter Obi looks suspicious as though he is incentivized to particularly defame him out of the other politicians at all cost.

Something doesn't add up here. There is something fishy.

They are on same political level, so they can continue attacking themselves till they are satisfied.

Since last week, popcorn sellers will have been making huge sales. Just grab a cup of popcorn and keep watching the entertainments. A few weeks ago, it was Soludo & Obi Clashed, now it is Sowore & Obi Clashed. Obi sef no dey sit down one place dey mind him business.

If you're wondering how he got the name "Pando man"

The revelation was part of the Pandora Papers , a global collaboration between investigative newsrooms and journalists that TIMES was part of.

Mr Obi was one of the few Nigerians indicted in the Pandora Papers reporting.
.

Playoff.

zero8zero:


https://www.timesng.com/news/headlines/796045-updated-peter-obi-omoyele-sowore-attack-each-other-in-verbal-combat.html

Why is it that in this country no politician is devoid of lies and propaganda? Even sowore of all people is now a liar and propagandist.

Nawa o!

Ban upon ban. Seun and his anitspambot.

Sowore and Deji Ayedanju are content creators. Their pages are monetized.

Sowore na noisemaker.

Obi is collecting sliding tackles back to back, he should take a break from social media and take out time, probably six months to treat his leg injuries. This is just a prelude to the fireworks that will kick off from next year. If you're not match fit, don't step on the field.


-Kiss the truth!

Sowore that lost in his polling booth wants to challenge Obi that defeated Tinubu in his own Lagos.

We need to take it easy

Sowore couldn't help but cast himself as APC mole. If not, tell me why opposition politician should be constantly attacking a fellow opposition politician instead of the woeful government in power? A friend of mine told me he was more of a CIA asset than bulaba & his job is to distract youths from good governance. I thought it was a lie because i voted for him in 2019 sowore you betray us. Chai!

I stand with Sowore

✌️

Ghen-gen ,act 1 scene 1

Opposition attacking opposition na why Sowore no fit get 5k votes, PO is a knight, and had every access to the Vatican, if not that Tinubu is Nigerian President he can’t meet the Pope, Sowore is a failure and he will continue failing, if he goes this route, no wonder people keep saying that he is working for Tinubu.

Sowore is working for Tinubu

.

They are tearing each other down, Tinubu is happy.
Sowore get levels sha. If it was someone like Reno, Obi would never respond.

Someone will lose election, getting less than 15,000 votes. Next thing, he's shouting revolution up and down.

Forget about all this blackmailers attacking PO and all the immature 2027 endorsements up and down. The message is clear " 2027 Sending Tinubu back to Lagos and Iragbiji"

Desperado pandora pathological liar vs younger desperado.
Battle of the desperate attention seeking sore losers.

Mbanda:
Why is it that in this country no politician is devoid of lies and propaganda? Even sowore of all people is now a liar and propagandist.

Nawa o!

He's a liar and propagandist until he attacks the President, then he becomes your hero once again. We know how you guys roll.


-Kiss the truth!

Glad to know that you are not confusing thunder ⚡

Alexis11:
I stand with Sowore

✌️

Sowore in summary
That bitterness is too much !!!

Dbemba:
Someone will lose election, getting less than 15,000 votes. Next thing, he's shouting revolution up and down.

I don't understand the crime in sharing idea with Mr President, by now we would have seen the effects of your travel to Egypt. You will be cracking your head for new challenges. Anyone thinking Mr President knows it all is completely deceiving himself/herself.

festacman:
As political contestants, one expects peter Obi and Sowore to verbally tackle each other, from time to time, based on issues.

Again, as an opposition politician, one also expects Sowore to always beam lights on the policies of the current FG but he is rather focused on another opposition politician Peter Obi.

His recent incessant and obsessive attacks on the person of Peter Obi looks suspicious as though he is incentivized to particularly defame him out of the other politicians at all cost.

Something doesn't add up here. There is something fishy.

Yoruba ing Yoruba, fear Ronu'ss