A source has confirmed to a Clariform reporter that Nigeria`s veteran Nollywood actor Pete Edochie have been approached by the Bola Tinubu campaign team for his endorsement of the candidate of the All Progressive Congress (APC) candidate for the 2023 presidential election.
The Anambra born elder statesman was allegedly offered the sum of Fifty Million for the endorsement of Tinubu`s candidacy.
However, Clariform have also gathered that the veteran Nollywood actor rejected this Fifty Million Naira offer at the mention of “Tinubu” and rightly walked out of the meeting.
According to our source, Pete Edochie has warned that nobody should ever come to him for the APC campaign, that he can’t trade the life and wellbeing of Nigerians for just 50M.
Notable Quote
In his words:
“Am not “Zack Orji” my name is “Peter Edochie” Ebube Dike of Igbo land.”
Pete Edochie also reportedly said that Bola Tinubu, the APC presidential candidate, is too old and too weak to run for president in 2023.
Clariform recalls that Pete had previously aired his view in April saying that many people like Tinubu are too old and too weak to run for president.
In an interview with BBC Igbò, Edochie said Tinubu has been in power for a long time even before he was made the leader of the APC.
In his words:
“But he should leave the position for those who are younger and healthier. Let’s be honest,”
Expressing his concerns about the political marginalization of Igbòs, he said:
“Igbò, Hausa, and Yorübá are the major ethnic groups in Nigeria. Only once in the history of Nigeria has it emerged that an Igbò person became the head of state in Nigeria.”
Pete Edochie described Igbos as resilient, stressing that Nigeria needs their ingenuity and sound leadership.
He also asserted that an Igbo leader is the answer to Nigeria’s socioeconomic and political problems.
However, Tinubu has often argued that he is a legitimate contender for the nation`s most exalted political office, pointing out that becoming president of Nigeria does not call for the same level of physical condition as bricklaying or grave digging.
Edochie also claimed that Nigeria’s political and socioeconomic issues can be solved by an Igbo leader.
On the contrary to Pete Edochie, Zack Orji, another Nollywood veteran has expressed his support for Tinubu, saying:
“I know that when he becomes the president of our country, he would turn the economy around for the better.”
The most recent celebrity and actor from Nigeria to publicly endorse Bola Tinubu, the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, is Zack Orji.
Bolanle Ninolowo, Gentle Jack, and the well-known singer Brymo all suddenly endorsed Bola Tinubu’s bid for the presidency.
Mr. Orji, vice president of the Ambassadors for Voice for Change, stated in a two-minute video that his support for Mr. Tinubu is both practical and emotional.
Takeaway
Pete Edochie`s revelation has now raise suspicion on the circumstances leading to the endorsement of Bola Ahmed Tinubu`s candidacy, raising suspicion that some financial offer may as have been made to him and others for their endorsement.
Similar to Edochie, the street-pop singer Habeeb Okikiola, popularly known as Portable, admitted that he received payment to support Bola Tinubu for president of the All Progressive Congress.
After endorsing the APC during the Osun State governorship race on his Instagram profile, Portable has faced backlash on social media.
He urged Nigerians to support Tinubu in the 2023 presidential election in the video that was posted.
