Former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has debunked claims that he collaborated with Nigeria’s late military ruler, General Sani Abacha, clarifying that he neither knew nor met the former Head of State during his lifetime.

Obi made the clarification during an appearance on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics, where he addressed growing speculations fueled by recent allegations from Reno Omokri, a former aide to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan.

Omokri had accused Obi of working with the Abacha regime, a claim the former Anambra State governor has now categorically denied.

“I have never met Abacha. I don’t know him. I know he was in the military. Everything I have done in my life is in the public space,” Obi stated firmly.

He went on to provide context to the only instance in which his name may have been linked to that era. According to Obi, during the Abacha administration, a critical port congestion crisis had prompted some concerned business leaders, including himself, to seek dialogue with the government.

“There was a time during Abacha’s government when he ordered the closure of ports. This led to severe congestion, goods weren’t being cleared or exported. We sought an audience with the Minister of Finance and were later received by the President,” Obi explained.

He said the government eventually set up a temporary committee involving private sector representatives to help decongest the ports, and he was among those selected due to his business experience.

“We were asked to help temporarily, and the process lasted maybe two to three weeks. After that, they talked about restructuring the ports, but I was never part of any panel. That was the extent of my involvement,” he emphasized.

Obi reiterated that his public and private sector records are transparent and accessible: “Everything I’ve done is in the public domain.”