Lere Olayinka dismisses Peter Obi 'no shishi' claims, cites Ekiti 2023 money distribution
Lere Olayinka, aide to FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, rejected claims that Nigeria Democratic Congress presidential candidate Peter Obi does not give money for political campaigns, stating he personally witnessed Obi distribute funds to delegates in Ekiti State during the 2023 elections when Obi was still in the PDP. Speaking on AIT's Democracy Today, Olayinka argued that politics operates like business where spending money is necessary to compete, noting that candidates give delegates money during primaries just as businesses invest to win contracts.
He emphasized that allegations of Obi not giving 'shishi' (Nigerian slang for campaign money) are false, drawing from his experience as a delegate who received funds from Obi during that period. Olayinka's comments come amid ongoing debates about campaign finance transparency in Nigerian politics, where cash distributions to delegates and voters remain common practice despite official disapproval.
The statement highlights the disconnect between public perceptions of candidates' financial ethics and the reality of campaign operations in Nigeria, where incumbent parties and challengers alike typically engage in grassroots financing to secure delegate support during primaries and general elections.
Given that campaign spending through direct distributions is standard across Nigerian political parties, should voters focus more on candidates' policy proposals and governance plans rather than their public denials of giving 'shishi' during elections?