₦airaland Forum

Nollywood actor-turned-politician, Kenneth Okonkwo, has said former Vice President Atiku Abubakar recognised his value despite his past criticisms, while accusing his former principal and Nigeria Democratic Congress 2027 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, of betraying him.

Okonkwo, previously Obi’s ally and spokesperson in the Labour Party, spoke on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Thursday.

He made the remarks a day after he was appointed spokesperson for Atiku, the African Democratic Congress’ 2027 presidential candidate.

The actor-turned-politician said he had publicly ended his relationship with Obi in 2024 after concluding that the former Anambra State governor lacked the decisiveness required to lead Nigeria.

“As a public affairs analyst that I have been from 2009 before I ever met Peter Obi, I proceeded with my job. You were one of the earliest interviewers that interviewed me in July 2024 when I said I wasn’t speaking for him anymore because he’s not decisive.

“I’ve seen in him certain qualities that make him unfit to be the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. I made it public. By then, I had finished my job with him. But in order for the people to know that I am not speaking for him anymore, I made it public, and I went my own way, and I was doing my own job.

“He was the one who betrayed me,” Okonkwo said.

He contrasted Obi’s response with that of Atiku, saying the former vice president overlooked his criticisms because he believed he could contribute to nation-building.

“I talked about Atiku Abubakar here in this studio much more than I would even talk about Peter Obi. And people were telling Atiku Abubakar, ‘This young man that is getting close to you, are you aware of what he said to you?’

“Atiku Abubakar said, ‘I am looking at this young man, I am seeing the value in him, and his tenacity to bring about a great Nigeria. That is what I am seeing. And if I have the opportunity, I will bring him in to bring that value to Nigeria.'”

Okonkwo described Atiku as a leader with an eye for talent.

“Look at a man, a talent discoverer that discovered Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, that discovered Professor Charles Soludo, that discovered El-Rufai.

“What Atiku Abubakar is looking at is not what you said about him because he knows that his desire for Nigeria is not about him, but what value are you bringing in? I had not even done anything for Atiku Abubakar, but he insisted, ‘I’ve seen something in this young man.'”

The remarks come amid an ongoing legal battle.

Okonkwo had publicly alleged that Obi and others collected bribes from House of Representatives aspirants.

In response, Obi, through his lawyers, demanded a retraction, public apology, and N5 billion in damages, describing the claims as false and damaging to his reputation.

When Okonkwo did not comply within the stipulated seven days, Obi filed a defamation suit at the Anambra State High Court in Onitsha in June 2026

The ADC chieftain also accused Obi of instituting the defamation suit against him after he left the party, describing the legal action as unnecessary.

“When I talked against him, he did not go to Adamawa, he did not go to Jada to bring frivolous suit against me. But this is somebody I worked for, did everything, stayed in the court for months.

“And I am free, doing my job, and you are running to Onitsha to bring frivolous defamation suit against himself, not me.

“Who is now the betrayer? Who is disloyal? Assuming without conceding, assuming without conceding, I even did something wrong. So, that is how he would have treated me?” he said.

Responding to a question on whether Obi was entitled to seek legal redress over the alleged defamatory comments, Okonkwo rejected the suggestion that he had defamed the former presidential candidate.

“‘Defaming’ is your word. Not mine. I sat down here, gave you the names of the people that told me things. I did not even say the way it is. I was still trying to shield…”

When the interviewer pointed out that some of the people he cited had denied making the claims, Okonkwo insisted he had documentary evidence.

“When you have something written down, you know what the court says? You know what the law says? Oral evidence cannot be adduced to contradict a written document. I have them with me. At the appropriate time, everybody will go and answer for his crimes, for his offenses, and for his denials.

“And so, there is no defamation at all. I told you that a lot of people have said worse things about him. You know what he said? ‘No, I don’t want to sue them, they are faceless.’

“So, your intention is to destroy people who have faces? Your intention is to destroy any Southeast person, a bright person rising from the Southeast? So other people that are faceless, you won’t go after them, but the people that are adding value, you want to go after them? Bring him on. Let him come.”

Okonkwo served as a spokesperson for Obi during the 2023 presidential campaign but parted ways in 2024.

They both left Labour Party and joined ADC before Obi defected from the coalition and joined NDC.