The presidential candidate of the Nigerian Democratic Congress, Peter Obi, has failed to provide a clear answer when asked if an audio of a conversation allegedly between him and Winners Chapel's Bishop David Oyedepo is real.

In 2022, in the heat of the electioneering season, the audio of the phone conversation leaked, in which Obi described the 2023 general election as a religious war.

He then sought help from Oyedepo to boost his presidential bid.

Shortly after the audio leaked, Obi distanced himself from it and threatened to sue the media house that released it, which he has yet to do, even years after making the threat.

Meanwhile, in a recent interview with Arise TV, Obi was asked to state if the audio is authentic.

He said, "Whatever you call it, whatever anybody wants to make of it, it’s fine with me. All I want to say is that I'm not a religious or tribal bigot."

When asked if he did have the conversation, he said, "Whatever came out of it is their business. I've shown you several examples of things that were said about me that are false."

In other news, Obi has expressed displeasure after President Bola Ahmed Tinubu left Nigeria for another holiday, this time beginning a three-week vacation in Europe.

According to him, this is happening as Nigeria is in deep crisis, with Nigerians barely able to afford food and transportation. He also lamented that insecurity is ravaging communities, and thousands of children are unable to access education because of insecurity.

He pointed out that just days ago, about 600 Nigerians, predominantly women, children, and the elderly, were reportedly abducted during Juma’at prayers in Niger State.

"Yet, at this critical moment, the President has left the country for another holiday.

"According to reports, government expenditure on presidential trips and related travel expenses between June 2023 and April 2026 amounted to about ₦37.64 billion, with the President spending approximately 261 days outside Nigeria.

"Meanwhile, only ₦36 million was reportedly released to the Federal Ministry of Health in 2025, despite a capital allocation of ₦218 billion, in a country of over 230 million people.

"This is the calamity befalling our country today," Obi said in a statement.

He said that a government that can spend tens of billions on presidential travel while critical sectors remain starved of funds, and Nigerians are asked to endure worsening hardship, must not be allowed to continue.

He stated that when citizens cannot feed their families, move safely, access healthcare, send their children to school, or sleep peacefully in their homes, the President should be more concerned about fixing the country than repeatedly leaving it.

"I look forward to a Nigeria where our President can vacation in Kano, Katsina, Sokoto, Cross River State, Bauchi, Ebonyi, and many other destinations across our country.

"The President of Nigeria should be the chief marketer of Nigeria as a tourism destination, as other comparable countries do.

"Imagine the economic possibilities if our leaders, celebrities, business communities, and citizens travelled within Nigeria more frequently.

"Tourism creates jobs. It supports hospitality, transportation, agriculture, entertainment, crafts, and small businesses. It brings investment and foreign exchange and allows communities to benefit directly from their natural and cultural assets.

"We cannot continue to export our wealth and import our pleasures while our own enormous potential remains neglected.

"We deserve leadership that puts Nigeria first; leadership that cares and plans for a better Nigeria. That is the kind of leadership that the partnership between H.E. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso and me will bring," he said.

ASA