Moses Paul, an aide to Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s presidential candidate in the 2023 elections, has revealed why some of Obi’s former associates in the banking and business sectors are keeping their distance from him in public.

In an interview with Rudolf Okonkwo on 90MinutesAfrica, Paul explained that fear of backlash from President Bola Tinubu’s administration has caused many of Obi’s old colleagues to avoid being seen with him.

Recalling a recent trip to Kigali, Rwanda, Paul shared an incident involving top Nigerian businessmen. He noted that Aliko Dangote and other prominent figures, who were once close to Obi, avoided interacting with him during a high-profile conference in Kigali.

“There was a trip I made to Rwanda with Mr. Peter Obi. During the event, Alhaji Aliko Dangote and several influential Nigerian bankers and businessmen were present.

Shockingly, people who used to share close ties with Obi were deliberately avoiding him, likely out of fear that the Tinubu-led government might target them or their businesses,” Paul said.

Also, he criticized this behavior, calling it disappointing and unbefitting of Nigeria’s status as a leading African nation.

“It’s disheartening that in today’s world, people are afraid to be seen with an opposition leader, worried about potential government retaliation. Nigeria is supposed to represent hope for the black race, yet we see situations like this,” he added.