Peter Obi, the Labour Party presidential candidate, has threatened to sue Peoples Gazette over a phone conversation between him and Living Faith Church founder Bishop David Oyedepo that was published in the newspaper on April 1.
“This is a religious war,” Mr Obi said in the leaked audio to solicit the revered cleric’s assistance in getting Christians in the South-West to back his presidency bid, particularly in the central states of Kwara, Kogi, and Niger.
The story sparked a furious and wide-ranging debate among Nigerians, with critics and supporters clashing over the politician’s use of religion for political gain.
Mr Obi has remained mostly silent since the story was published on Saturday evening, despite widespread calls for him to clarify his views, which he had already expressed in the phone call. Two of his aides attempted to rebut the report’s portrayal of the former Anambra governor, who finished third in the presidential election on February 25.
“Our legal team have been instructed to take appropriate legal actions against Peoples Gazette and others,” Mr Obi tweeted Wednesday evening in response to The Gazette’s story.
“Let me reiterate that the audio call being circulated is fake,” he added in the thread of tweets. “At no time throughout the campaign and now did I ever say, think, or even imply that the 2023 election is, or was a religious war.”
Mr Obi, on the other hand, remained silent on why he did not comment on the story, despite multiple attempts to reach him for comment in the two days preceding its publication.
The audio file was also sent to several of Mr Obi’s aides, who were asked to comment. After discussing the audio with their principal, the aides, including his long-time spokesman Valentine Obienyem, close associate Mike Ifedi, and campaign director-general Akin Osuntokun, all declined to comment.
Mr Oyedepo, for his part, declined to comment after an inquiry was sent to him, along with the audio, as requested.
Mr Oyedepo did not deny the conversation with Mr Obi when he took the pulpit the next day after the story was published. Instead, he told his Sunday service audience that politicians from all parties regularly sought his election advice, which he gladly provided.
Furthermore, Mr Obienyem, who was Mr Obi’s chief press secretary when he was governor of Anambra, confirmed the authenticity of the audio on his Facebook page on April 2.
Kenneth Okonkwo, a spokesman for Mr Obi’s campaign, confirmed the audio and insisted that it was genuine, despite online vitriol from Mr Obi’s supporters.
“Honesty is the best policy,” Mr Okonkwo said while emphasising that the audio was indeed that of his principal amid vicious attacks from his fellow Labour supporters.
The Gazette quickly issued a statement on Wednesday night stating that it stood by its story and denounced Mr Obi’s attempt to intimidate its newsroom.
“Peoples Gazette stands unflinchingly by the audio recording of Peter Obi and David Oyedepo as published on April 1, 2023,” Deputy Managing Editor Boladale Adekoya said.
Mr Adekoya also stated that the audio clip was properly sourced and authenticated before being used.
“The audio and the context surrounding it were properly sourced and authenticated in line with journalism best practices,” the editor said.
He also stated that The Gazette was willing to go to any length to protect the source of the clip, implying that Mr Obi filed the lawsuit in the hopes that the organization would be forced to reveal the source of the telephone conversation leak during the trial.
“Finally, we maintain in no uncertain terms that we will uphold the principle of source protection to any length,” Mr Adekoya said
My question is: Why then was Awoola suspended for one month without salary over the said “leaked audio”?