Ikeotuonye spreading falsehood, not fit for honest national discourse – Obienyem

Obienyem

By TANKO ALI

The Media Adviser to Mr. Peter Obi, former Governor of Anambra State and Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 general elections, Mr. Valentine Obienyem, has described Mr. John CDO Ikeotuonye as “a very wicked and shameless personality who would stop at nothing, not even crude falsehood, to malign others.”

Obienyem was reacting to Ikeotuonye’s recent comments on the True Talk Podcast, where he alleged, among other things, that Mr. Obi refused to assist former Nigerian football star, Kanu Nwankwo, with money for his heart surgery; that Obi was the highest shareholder in Interfact Breweries; and that he only appointed Catholics into public office during his tenure as Governor of Anambra State.

On the issue of Kanu Nwankwo, Obienyem dismissed the allegation as “not just wicked but satanic.” He explained that Kanu underwent his heart surgery in 1996, long before Obi became Governor. “It was public knowledge that Inter Milan, Kanu’s club at the time, paid the hospital bills. So, how could anyone with a shred of decency fabricate such lies? Even if one were commissioned by the Devil himself,” Obienyem stressed, “there must still be a limit to evil.”

Highlighting Obi’s record with sportsmen, Obienyem continued: “As Governor, Obi was number one in supporting sportsmen. He donated a bus to Enugu Rangers, instituted monthly stipends for their players, and personally assisted many ex-internationals. Just last year, when ex-Rangers star Tijani Babangida had an accident, Obi visited him. That same year, when a member of the old Rangers passed away, Obi bought land and built a house for his family. Before Christian Chukwu died, I personally paid in money on Obi’s behalf as part of his routine support. These are verifiable acts. For Ikeotuonye to deny them shows he has no conscience left.”