Mr. Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 general elections, has replied Lai Mohammed and other critic that resorting t the tribunal to recover his mandate doesn’t amount to treason.
Obi said that he was saddened, on reading the press statement by the Nigerian Minister of Information, Alhaji Lai Mohammed in which he (Lai Mohammed) accused him and his running mate, Senator Datti Baba-Ahmed of inciting the citizens and thereby committing treasonable acts.
The former Anambra State Governor, in a press statement issued by his adviser media, Dr. Valentine Obienyem said that opting for the tribunal to recover his mandate cannot amount to treason.
It will be recalled that Lai in a press statement, accused Obi and his Deputy, Sen. Baba Datti-Ahmed, of treason, by their inciting the citizens to revolt against the announcement of Sen. Bola Tinubu as the president-elect.
In the statement Obi said that he was not perturbed by the Minister bandying around the word ‘treason’ because, as far as he (Obi) was concerned, he had taken the legal route towards the recovery of his mandate and that he remained committed to that.
“Any person ‘seeing’ treason in a clear legal process should explain to Nigerians how opting for the tribunal by myself and my Deputy amounts to treason,” Obi said.
Part of the statement read: “In the past few days, I’ve observed various campaigns of calumny directed at my person, the latest being allegations attributed to the Information Minister, Lai Mohammed, in Washington DC. It is most unfortunate that these consistent efforts to portray me in a manner, quite contrary to what I am and my core values, are coming from such high quarters.
“Lai accusation of me stoking the fire of insurrection is totally fictitious and malicious. I have never advocated or encouraged anyone to undermine the Nigerian state; I’ve never sponsored or preached any action against the Nigerian state.”
“Reckless statements by some Nigerians is utterly perplexing, moreso that a Minister would be busy travelling round the world, telling Nigerians that the purpose was to tell the world the true story of the Nigerian election.
Obi added, “This is laughable, against the background of the fact that most of those countries sent their people to monitor the election and have all received reports from the monitors, as well as from their embassies. Between Lai Mohammed and their monitors/embassies, who would these countries believe?”
Obi said that such reckless behaviour, sponsored with tax payers money, was among the reasons those countries often don’t take Nigeria seriously. “The billions spent on those meaningless trips would be enough to fix several dilapidated schools in the country,“ Obi said.
While urging Nigerians to always remain law-abiding and hopeful for the coming of the New Nigeria, Obi reinstated his steadfast inclination saying: “I’m on record, as always, advocating peace and issue-based campaign, not a campaign based on ethnicity or religion.
“I’m committed to due process and presently seeking redress in court. I urge those engaged in this de-marketing 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. And this is possible,” Obi added.
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