What the APC, PDP said about the leaked audio conversation between Obi and Oyedepo

The leaked audio conversation between Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party and Bishop David Oyedepo has generated reactions not only from social media but from the political class.

The tape was published by the online portal People’s Gazette on Saturday, April 1.

Obi, in the now-viral video, could be heard begging the popular cleric for his support ahead of the 2023 presidential elections.

The former Anambra governor is regarded as a third force in Nigeria's political ecosystem.

The leaked audio has since generated heated conversations and controversies on social media with many Nigerians condemning Peter Obi for championing religious-driven campaign in a multi-dimensional country like Nigeria.

Fani-Kayode reacts

Reacting to the tape, Femi Fani-Kayode, a member of the APC presidential campaign council called on security agencies to declare Peter Obi a “master terrorist.”

Fani-Kayode said the declaration became necessary by the confirmation of Kenneth Okonkwo that the leaked audio of the conversation between Obi and Bishop David Oyedepo was authentic.

In the leaked audio, a voice similar to that of Obi can be heard asking the cleric to speak to the Christians in the southwest and Kwara to vote for him in the presidential poll, describing the election as a “religious war”.

While some Obi supporters described the audio as fake, Kenneth Okonkwo, a spokesperson of the LP campaign, in a series of posts on his official Twitter handle said “political criminals are trying to spin the conversation as if the LP candidate was making a religious comment”.

Reacting to the comments of Okonkwo, Fani-Kayode said Peter Obi “is indeed one of the “troublers” of our nation.”

“Now that the spokesman of Peter Obi, one Kenneth Okonkwo, has confirmed that the audio recording of the conversation between Bishop Oyedepo and his principal is authentic, it is time for us to call on the security agencies to declare Peter a master terrorist, a security risk, a man that is wholly unfit to lead a multi-religious, multi-ethnic, multi-cultural state and a hater of non-Christians,” Fani-Kayode stated.

“He is indeed one of the “troublers” of our nation. Can you imagine what would have happened to Muslims if he had won the election? Within a few months he would have plunged Nigeria into a religious war.”

Reno Omokri reacts

Reno Omokri, a former aide of President Goodluck Jonathan has mocked Peter Obi for the tape, in a post on social media, he wrote: “See who wanted to be our President? A common simp! Yes daddy, yes daddy, yes daddy! Crying over elections, like a teenage girl dumped by her first boyfriend. This is the same that said he would defeat Boko Haram? He will see bandits and start to cry ‘yes daddy’!” Omokri posted.

In another post, he wrote: “Peter Obi just lost the entire Yoruba vote! See the way he lied against Yoruba leaders. Talking down on Tinubu. Mocking his health and wealth. He sounded more like Nnamdi Kanu.”

Festus Keyamo

Minister of State for Labour and Spokesperson of Tinubu/Shettima Presidential Campaign, Mr. Festus Keyamo, SAN said God has exposed Obi for declaring a religious war in a multi-religious and multi-ethnic country, declaring his dream to become a President one day is dead.

In a statement, Keyamo said, “Having confirmed the authenticity of what is now known as the Peter Obi ‘Yes-daddy’ audio, I think the real culprit here are the so-called ‘men of God’ who allowed themselves to be used by an unscrupulous politician to seek to inflame religious passions in our dear country in the name of politics.

“So, when they were telling their hapless adherents that they heard the voice of the Lord, it was actually Peter Obi’s telephone calls they heard and not God’s voice. This is deceitful, shameful and disgusting. Imagine a so-called ‘man of God’ comparing notes with a politician as to what he said or what he would say on the pulpit in order to get him votes.

“I hope this sufficiently embarrasses the ‘men of God’ in Nigeria to forthwith desist from using the pulpit for politics and the Church-goers to stop being teleguided by their self-serving ‘men of God’.

“As for Peter Obi who declared an election a ‘religious war’ in a multi-religious and multi-ethnic country like ours, the real God has just exposed him and his dream to be Nigeria’s President one day has just died a natural death. ‘Yes-daddy’ is now permanently etched in the consciousness of the nation and we will NEVER forget!”