Presidential candidate of Labour Party, Peter Obi has dismissed allegations of inciting Nigerians to violence over the outcome of the presidential elections.
He said he has neither sponsored or preached any action against the Nigerian state, and it is on record that he’s been advocating for peace and issue-based campaigns.
Obi made the statement in reaction to allegations by Minister of Information, Lai Mohammed that he and his vice, Datti Baba-Ahmed have been issuing threats that the swearing-in of President-elect, Bola Tinubu will end democracy in Nigeria.
Mohammed, while speaking in Washington DC said it was wrong for Obi on one breadth to seek redress in court over the outcome of the polls and on another breadth inciting people to violence.
He said in part; “Obi and his Vice, Datti Ahmed cannot be threatening Nigerians that if the President-elect, Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) is sworn-in on May 29, it will be the end of democracy in Nigeria. This is treason. You cannot be inviting insurrection, and this is what they are doing.
“Obi’s statement is that of a desperate person, he is not the democrat that he claimed to be. A democrat should not believe in democracy only when he wins the election”.
But in a series of tweets on Tuesday, the former Anambra governor said the minister’s accusation that he is stoking insurrection was totally malicious and fictitious.
Obi said; “In the past few days, I have observed various campaigns of calumny directed at my person, with the latest being allegations attributed to the information Minister, Lai Mohammed from Washington DC.
“It is most unfortunate that these consistent efforts to portray me quite contrary to what I am, and my core values, is coming from such high quarters. Minister Lai accusing me of stoking insurrection is totally malicious and fictitious.
“I have never discussed or encouraged anyone to undermine the Nigerian state; I have never sponsored or preached any action against the Nigerian state. Those initiating these actions have increasingly used their official positions and agents to make false allegations against me.
“I am on record as always, advocating for peace and issue-based campaign and never campaigned based on ethnicity or religion. I am committed to due process, and presently seeking redress in the Court.
“I urge those engaged in this demarketing process to stop presenting Nigeria in such bad light. Our future generations deserve a new Nigeria, where they can live a secure and decent life like their counterparts in other climes. It is possible.”
