The International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) last Sunday released the “Pandora Papers,” an exposé of the financial secrets and offshore dealings of dozens of heads of state, public officials and politicians from 91 countries and territories.

Incidentally, Mr. Peter Obi, former governor of Anambra State and Vice-Presidential candidate of the PDP in last presidential election, was alleged to have been mentioned in the report.

Mr. Obi is a household name in Nigeria for his successes as both a private businessman and a politician. He remains today the most successful governor produced by Anambra State; first to serve two-terms and he left government with his heads held high.

Among many Nigerians, he is widely regarded as potential for a shot at the presidency of the country. He has also been speaking out against inefficiencies in government; proffering solutions on how to arrest the decline in accountability in public offices.

With his name allegedly listed in the papers, interest is generated; political opponents are woofing for blood and Mr. Obi’s head appears on the guillotine.

According CNN, “more than 600 journalists from 150 outlets spent two years investigating nearly 12 million confidential files — a bigger cache of documents than 2016’s Panama Papers.

The Pandora Papers reveal how unusual offshore finances and secretive wealth have infiltrated global politics. Some of the people named in the papers are major political leaders in developing or impoverished countries, such as Jordan and Kenya.”

It is worthy to note that some of the world leaders mentioned in that report, including Russian President, Vladimir Putin; former British Prime Minister, Mr. Tony Blair; King Abdullah Il bin Al-Hussien of Jordan, have all denied any wrong doing.

I have read the report published by Premium Times and I found it troubling. From the title, “Pandora Papers: Inside Peter Obi’s secret businesses – and how he broke the law”, it was obvious that Premium Times was out to rubbish Mr. Obi and damage his profile.

I am not out to defend the former governor, as he’s capable of doing so himself. However, I am worried that Premium Times has gone beyond its role to pass verdict on Mr. Obi. It described him as a man assumed to be clean and then went ahead to state, “but beyond the facade of priggish speeches and appearances, an investigation by PREMIUM TIMES has now shown that Mr. Obi is not entirely transparent in his affairs as he likes Nigerians to believe.”

This is a hatchet job meant to put the ex-governor on the spot without properly establishing he had run foul of the law. Other news outlets have equally published the papers and not one of those mentioned was as indicted as Premium Times has done of Mr. Obi. The news organization created the wrong impression of Mr. Obi and one will be right to accuse them, and rightly too, of being a tool in the hands of those rattled by Obi’s rising profile.

One cannot rule out political opponents, who are afraid of Obi’s chances ahead of the 2023 elections, using Premium Times to cut him down. By mixing news story with its opinion of the investigation, Premium Times passed judgment. This is wrong. Facts are sacred and opinions are free, and in news writing, you present the facts and leave opinion for the Opinion Pages. To infuse your opinion in a news story is wrong and on this Premium Times was judgmental.

As far as the report goes, there was no where Mr. Obi was accused of stealing government money and depositing it into the so-called ‘Shell Companies”; the investigation never said that Anambra State money was missing and was found in the account. So, Mr. Peter should not be so profiled as Premium Times has done. Even if the contrary is the case, it is still not in the place of the news organization to act as judge and jury.

What has Obi’s speeches and appearances got to do with the investigation? As far as I am concerned, Premium Times saw this report as an opportunity to ‘nail’ Obi, on whose behalf, I do not know. But it is in bad taste. You don’t editorialize in a news story.

Mr. Peter was a successful business man before he ventured into politics. His curriculum vitae is intimidating. His success in whatever capacity he had participated remains a reference point. Naturally, he is a marked man.

Premium Times was not fair to Mr. Obi and on that score, I fault the publication and see it as a hatchet job and witch-hunting.

https://authorityngr.com/2021/10/06/peter-obi-premium-times-witch-hunt-and-journalism/

Obi Pandora is a criminal that violated Nigeria law. Operating hidden offshore accounts while being governor could be a route to steal state money and hide it from people.

What you guys don’t even know is that more of his incriminating files are currently hidden and when it’s time to truly use it against him it will be available in the public domain.

Real politicians keep their last card to their chest. When they truly want to use it as a political tool against him, none among you will be left to defend him. You will only use the Shebi that one too is a thief and bla bla bla which is exactly the same thing his political opponents want (i.e. demystify the holier than thou image of Peter Obi and make people know that he’s exactly like your regular corrupt politicians).

Seriously, our Eastern brothers are overrated, they hardly read. And that's why I referred to them as Illiterate Peoples of Biafra

I urge them to read the Pandora Papers.

Peter Obi breached public trust, he abused his office. He tried to conceal his loot. I love him because he has displayed an Indepth understanding of the economy, but on this Pandora, he fumbled.

Nonsense as usual. NwaNimo1 try harder,

Tribal sentiments will never allow this country make progress.

What is the need for us to remain together? Everything is measured on the basis of tribe or other stupid interests.

If obi commits a crime, his people will rally round him and if possible, get him off the hook. If Obi is innocent, his adversaries from other tribes will whip up sentiments within their tribesmen to make him look like a common thief.

Just look at the comments above and below me: none is objective. All have tribalism written all over it. And these are youths, which should tell you that nothing is changing in the next 20 to 40 years.

A hopeless country.

when I tell my ignorant woke liberal Yoruba people that they are constantly being manipulated they'd call me a tribalist and an ethnic jingoist true but atleast am not a hypocrite. Every part of Nigerian society is plagued by one tribal bias or the other only in the south west that it's not rampant....in fact woke Yoruba people stupidly joined in bringing down their sister formal finance minister simply because of NYSC certificate. From the governmental bodies to cooperate Nigeria; tribalism and ethnic witch-hunting abounds, and Yoruba's ignorantly unfortunately are the most disadvantaged purely because of their ignorance.

Why am I talking like this? Since the news of Obi Pandora being a dishonest criminal came to light people from his ethnic stalk have been roaming from pillar to post trying to defend and whitewash their container economist, employing different tactics of blackmail and propaganda. Not so long ago these same people were calling for Abba Kyari's head when the hushpuppi case happened.
The dullards have been repeating and recycling the same article and headline via their Igbo owned newspapers, the stupid fools didn't even bother to change the headlines to mask their bigotry and hypocrisy. Check the owners/heads/editors of these media groups below and notice what they have in common... they all come from the same tribal stock as the obi Pandora criminal in question. I won't be surprised if these owners have one criminal case or the other especially that Ubah guy.

From ThisDay, Arise News, Sun News, etc.. are examples of why I don't take nigerian news agencies seriously. Make una continue with una hypocrisy, you can only decieve the ignorant, foolish, sentimental Yoruba man.....not me, you can't fool an ibadan yoruba man.



PS: Also notice that ripples news was founded in 2015 which happened to be an election year.... it's obvious what the news agency is for.

With this dumb and idiotic article and the destruction, bloodshed and mayhem going on in that part of the country, it is safe to conclude that something is definitely wrong with the people from that part of Nigeria, maybe it's a curse or just some weird stuff in the well water they drink.


Something is definitely wrong with them..

LegendHero:
Obi Pandora is a criminal that violated Nigeria law. Operating hidden offshore accounts while being governor could be a route to steal state money and hide it from people.

What you guys don’t even know is that more of his incriminating files are currently hidden and when it’s time to truly use it against him it will be available in the public domain.

Real politicians keep their last card to their chest. When they truly want to use it as a political tool against him, none among you will be left to defend him. You will only use the Shebi that one too is a thief and bla bla bla which is exactly the same thing his political opponents want (i.e. demystify the holier than thou image of Peter Obi and make people know that he’s exactly like your regular corrupt politicians).

God bless you egbon. These omo nna's think that all the lies and propaganda they were spreading about tinubu will go freely...they did it with abiola when they spread different rumors about him, some of them even claimed that he hates christains and once dumped bibles into the sea when it was all a big lie. Na why I no dey take them seriously.

TheSupleemLeada:


God bless you egbon. These omo nna's think that all the lies and propaganda they were spreading about tinubu will go freely...they did it with abiola when they spread different rumors about him, some of them even claimed that he hates christains and once dumped bibles into the sea when it was all a big lie. Na why I no dey take them seriously.

God bless you too brother mi.

You’re right 100%. When the real politicking start, they will know that their master in the game of real propaganda.

We’ve left them to throw all their cards all these past years which they just waste without sinking the target, when we start our own, it will be very handy and intended to achieve the targeted impact. Time is a big factor in politics, you should know when to keep your cards and when to reveal it.

LegendHero:
Obi Pandora is a criminal that violated Nigeria law. Operating hidden offshore accounts while being governor could be a route to steal state money and hide it from people.

What you guys don’t even know is that more of his incriminating files are currently hidden and when it’s time to truly use it against him it will be available in the public domain.

Real politicians keep their last card to their chest. When they truly want to use it as a political tool against him, none among you will be left to defend him. You will only use the Shebi that one too is a thief and bla bla bla which is exactly the same thing his political opponents want (i.e. demystify the holier than thou image of Peter Obi and make people know that he’s exactly like your regular corrupt politicians).

. Continue to talk trash, you people think Nigerians are not intelligent, we all know that premium times is doing a hatchet job for tinubu, but there is no cause for alarm tinubu is already gone politically

durangokid:
. Continue to talk trash, you people think Nigerians are not intelligent, we all know that premium times is doing a hatchet job for tinubu, but there is no cause for alarm tinubu is already gone politically

Lol.

If Tinubu and Peter Obi are contesting the ballot in 2023, who do you think will win?

If you lie about how you feel about the result, Amadioha is somewhere looking at you

Waiting for your reply!!

LegendHero:


Lol.

If Tinubu and Peter Obi are contesting the ballot in 2023, who do you think will win?

If you lie about how you feel about the result, Amadioha is somewhere looking at you

Waiting for your reply!!

. If you not aware that concorted report by premium times did not emanate from your Yoruba propaganda news Esi is looking for you

LegendHero:


Lol.

If Tinubu and Peter Obi are contesting the ballot in 2023, who do you think will win?

If you lie about how you feel about the result, Amadioha is somewhere looking at you

Waiting for your reply!!

. If you not aware that concorted report by premium times did emanated from your Yoruba propaganda news Esi is looking for you