Controversy Surrounds El-Rufai and Peter Obi in Owerri as Aide Disproves Audience Boos Reports

In the heart of Imo State, the Assumpta Cathedral played host to the 2025 Odenigbo Lecture, a prestigious event that attracted a number of notable figures. Among them was Nasir El-Rufai, the former governor of Kaduna State.

El-Rufai was warmly received by the leadership of the Catholic Archdiocese of Owerri during the event. He was led to the venue without incident and sat next to His Grace, Archbishop Lucius Ugochi, during the lecture.

During the lecture, El-Rufai was introduced to the guest lecturer of the day, Revd. Sister Prof. Evangeline Tochukwu Talia Oparaocha. There was no booing episode against either El-Rufai or Peter Obi, the erstwhile presidential candidate, who was conspicuously absent.

Peter Obi had notified El-Rufai early on Saturday morning that he would take some rest and would not attend the lecture. No audiovisual evidence of a booing episode has emerged because it did not happen.

Muyiwa Adekeye, media adviser to Nasir El-Rufai, issued a statement dismissing claims that El-Rufai was humiliated by protesters. El-Rufai left the event during the lecture, notifying the Archbishop of his departure, and his exit was without incident.

Muyiwa Adekeye also stated that reporting the presence at the event of a man who was not there betrays the non-factual character of the story. No information about Peter Obi being aware of a plan to defect to the ADC by Rhodes-Vivour, or any disruptions at an ADC rally for Peter Obi and Rhodes-Vivour in Lagos, was provided.

The guest lecturer was invited to join a procession to the pavilion where the Odenigbo Lecture was delivered. Despite some speculation, no information about Uba Sani rejecting the 'my boy' tag or revealing his mentors was provided, and no information about Nigeria being in a grip of a full-blown security emergency or guns alone not being able to end insecurity was given.

The 2025 Odenigbo Lecture marked another successful event in the series, with Nasir El-Rufai's attendance adding a significant political dimension to the proceedings.