The presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, has responded to the accusation of “treason” leveled against him and his running mate, Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed, by the Minister of Information and culture, Lai Mohammed, describing it as “totally malicious and fictitious”.
Earlier reports disclosed that Mohammed who was speaking with some int6ernational media organizations in the US said it was wrong for Obi in one breath to seek redress in court over the outcome of the polls and in the same breath incite people to violence.In his words
“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,” he said
Responding to Mohammed’s allegation, Obi in a series of tweet,s said is unfortunate that the Minister would portray him as such. He stated that he has never sponsored or preached any action against the Nigerian state, adding that he ran a peaceful and issue-based campaign and not a campaign based on ethnicity or religion.
‘’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.”
