Daddy Freeze Under Fire for Questioning Peter Obi’s Integrity Over Alleged Abacha Ties

Popular Nigerian media personality, Ifedayo Olarinde, known as Daddy Freeze, has sparked controversy online following his recent remarks about Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi.

Speaking on The Honest Bunch Podcast, Daddy Freeze questioned the widespread perception of Obi as an incorruptible leader, citing alleged links to the late military dictator, General Sani Abacha. He expressed difficulty in reconciling Obi’s current “saintly” image with claims that he once held a strategic role as Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) during the Abacha regime.

“I admire Peter Obi. He’s intelligent and articulate, but I struggle with the fact that he supposedly served under Abacha’s government. It’s difficult to reconcile that with the saintly image many people have of him today,” Freeze stated.

Obi, a former governor of Anambra State, rose to prominence during the 2023 elections, securing massive support from Nigerian youths and finishing third behind President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Atiku Abubakar. Despite not winning, his influence remains strong as he is widely seen as a contender for the 2027 race.

However, Daddy Freeze’s comments have triggered fierce reactions from Obi’s supporters — popularly referred to as “Obidients” — with many accusing him of spreading misinformation.

Critics argue that Obi never held a formal government position under Abacha. One user claimed Obi was simply a young businessman who wrote a petition to the government over port congestion, leading to his appointment on an ad hoc committee — not a direct government role.

“PO was NEVER MD of NPA. He was a 30-year-old businessman in the UK who wrote a petition to the Abacha government,” one commenter wrote. “Abacha then named him chairman of an ad hoc committee — that’s not the same as working with Abacha.”

While some users defended Daddy Freeze’s right to ask questions, others saw his remarks as misleading and unnecessarily inflammatory.

Social media remains abuzz with divided opinions, as the debate reflects growing public scrutiny of Nigeria’s political figures and their past associations.