"He only gave me $2,000 25 years ago" - Pat Utomi denies working for Tinubu against Obi

Academic-cum-politician, Prof. Pat Utomi has denied working for President-elect Bola Tinubu against Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate, Peter Obi, in the February 25 presidential election.

Utomi said this while responding to an allegation by an LP candidate in Oyo State in the 2023 election, Tawfiq Akinwale that Tinubu asked Utomi to step down for Peter Obi in the buildup to the 2023 general elections.

Akinwale, who spoke on a radio programme on 101.7 YES FM, Ibadan, called Utomi Tinubu’s “son”.

He alleged that Utomi got campaign funds from Tinubu.

However, Utomi said the only time he received money from Tinubu was when he got $2,000 for an MIT event 25 years ago.

The LP chieftain spoke in a Friday tweet amid an allegation that Tinubu used him to sponsor Peter Obi’s presidential ambition to split the possible votes of his closest rival, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The political economist wrote, “Some fellow pulling up a 9-year-old video from an Ileya visit claimed the know of conduit of money through me to PO (Peter Obi) to upend Atiku. 1st, have had no direct or indirect contact with BAT in 4 years. Only material transfer from BAT to me in 25yrs we have known is $2000 for MIT event,” he tweeted.

He added, “In truth I have been much closer to Waziri Atiku who I first met in 1983 and wrote the feasibility for his farm a year later. I have served on the Board of his university, AUN. Only a warped or misinformed mind would invent such disinformation.

“As for funding PO (Peter Obi) I cannot but be amazed at this disinformation. The outpouring of resources of citizens in support groups and PO’s prudent draw on his own purse was so humbling I even turned to ODs to fund my own activities in support of the campaign for faith in saving Nigeria.

“Truly if any flow from BAT came to me II would quickly withdraw money I spent at his urging in 2007 paid to international PR agency for an Orange revolution type campaign to stop 3rd term but not refunded. Details are in book I wrote 4 years ago. It would have helped my cash flow.

“I entered the 2023 campaigns to build a Third Force to break the race to the bottom and press a reset knob for Nigeria. Stayed elevated with issues and denounced calumnies. Yet some have waged disinformation and calumny campaigns aimed at me. I will continue to refuse to descend.”