The credibility of activist Deji Adeyanju has come under sharp scrutiny after a veteran journalist, Ike Abonyi, publicly debunked his claim that the Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, offered him money for support.
Abonyi, who personally arranged and attended the meeting between Adeyanju and Obi in 2022, has branded the activist’s allegations as baseless blackmail.
In a strongly worded statement released in Abuja, the respected columnist said Adeyanju’s narrative was not only false but also damaging to public discourse.
“I was at the meeting from start to finish. At no point did Obi offer him money or promise anything. What I read from Deji shocked me to the marrow. He is free to support whoever he chooses, but this deliberate twisting of facts is unacceptable,” Abonyi declared.
According to him, the meeting lasted over three hours, during which Obi only spoke about his life, leadership record, and vision—statements consistent with what he had often said publicly.
Abonyi revealed that this was not the first time Adeyanju had made questionable claims about Obi. Back in July 2022, when Adeyanju suggested Obi could accept an appointment from APC’s Bola Tinubu, Abonyi said he had cautioned him privately against “reckless fabrications.”
Despite repeated private appeals for restraint, Adeyanju has ignored calls and messages, prompting Abonyi to finally go public.
The veteran journalist minced no words:
“Deji has the right to change his mind about Obi, but he has no right to invent lies. As a journalist of long standing and as a Christian, I stand with facts, not falsehood. This is pure blackmail, and it must be called out.”
Political observers say Adeyanju’s pattern of flip-flopping raises questions about the reliability of his interventions in national debates. Once a vocal supporter of Obi—openly describing him as the “best candidate” and urging him to leave the PDP—Adeyanju now seeks to discredit him with unverified claims.
Analysts warn that such conduct does not just damage Obi’s image but also undermines the integrity of activism in Nigeria.
For many, the episode is a reminder of how quickly political advocacy can be tainted by misinformation and personal agenda.
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