The media team of former Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate Peter Obi has raised concerns about an alleged plan by the Bola Tinubu presidency to arrest Obi in connection with the upcoming August 1 nationwide protest.
This reaction from Obi’s media team followed claims by presidential spokesperson Bayo Onanuga, who linked Obi to the impending protest.
SaharaReporters previously reported that the Tinubu presidency was uneasy about the anticipated nationwide protest and warned Nigerians against attempting a civilian coup against Tinubu.
Onanuga accused Obi’s supporters of organizing the protests against the Tinubu administration and suggested they should be held responsible for any ensuing disorder. He also linked the organizers to the violent 2020 ENDSARS protests.
In response, Obi’s media office issued a statement describing these allegations as baseless and malicious, suggesting that the presidency aims to justify arresting Obi and limiting his freedom of association.
The statement, released by spokesman Yunusa Tanko on Saturday, read: “The attention of the Peter Obi Media Reach (POMR) has been drawn to the wild, wicked, and baseless allegations by one of the Presidential Spokespersons, Bayo Onanuga, accusing the Labour Party’s 2023 Presidential Candidate, Peter Obi, of being the mastermind of a planned protest in the country.
“The statement even said that Obi should be held responsible for any mayhem that may occur during the protest. However, POMR can report from reliable sources that these unsubstantiated allegations are being orchestrated to arrest Obi, limit his freedom and association, and halt his advocacy for good governance, which they find threatening to their lavish lifestyle.
“Peter Obi, by his demeanor in and out of political office, has not shown any inclination towards violence, even under the most severe provocations. He has consistently demonstrated, even during election campaigns, that he is focused on issues and refrains from personal attacks.
“POMR is also aware that multiple attack dogs have been hired and strategically deployed to ensure that Obi does not engage with the Nigerian populace, who are eager to hear his perspective on various issues.”
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