Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 election, and his supporters have denied allegations that they are sponsoring protests to unseat the current government.
Yunusa Tanko, spokesperson for the Peter Obi Media Reach (POMR), issued a statement on Saturday, refuting the claims. “These unsubstantiated allegations are being orchestrated to arrest Obi, limit his freedom and association, and stop his propagation for good governance,” Tanko said. He emphasized that Obi has never been associated with violence, even in the face of provocation.
The accusations were originally made by Bayo Onanuga, a media aide to President Bola Tinubu, who claimed that supporters of Peter Obi were behind planned protests over economic hardship.
Tanko responded by pointing out that the government’s own policies have created widespread anger. “All the problems real and imagined created by their insensitivity and lavish lifestyle they have curiously tried to link to Obi,” he said, citing issues like the fuel subsidy fallout, growing poverty, inflation, nepotism, and unresolved historical conflicts.
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Pat Utomi, a prominent supporter of Obi, also denied involvement in the protests. Utomi stated on his verified X handle that he has been out of the country and unaware of any planned demonstrations. “I have been resident in Washington DC and occupied by an intense Fellowship for months with additional work on a book project,” he posted. Utomi challenged Onanuga to present any evidence to support his claims.
Both Obi and Utomi stress that their focus remains on advocating for good governance and addressing the nation’s pressing issues without resorting to violence or unlawful activities.