The Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi, has reacted to the campaigns of calumny directed at him by Nigerian government officials and warned that they are rather demarketing the country.
Lai Mohammed, Nigeria’s Minister of Information, had travelled to the United States of America (USA) to allege that Mr Obi’s effort to seek redress in Court over the conduct of the February 25 presidential election was treasonable.
Mohammed also accused Obi’s running-mate, Datti Baba-Ahmed, of the same offence for speaking out against what he believes was election theft.
But responding to Mohammed’s allegation, Obi stated that Nigerian government officials must stop ridiculing the country with their puerile allegations.
According to Obi, Lai Mohammed and spokespersons of the APC should stop the demarketing process that is presenting Nigeria in a very bad light.
Obi said on Tuesday in Abuja that “In the past few days, I have observed various campaigns of calumny directed at my person, the latest being allegations attributed to 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 malicious and fictitious.
“I have never discussed or encouraged anyone to undermine the Nigerian state; I’ve 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’m on record as always advocating peace and issue-based campaign and not campaigning based on ethnicity or religion.
“I am committed to due process and am presently seeking redress in Court. I urge those engaged in this demarketing process to stop presenting Nigeria in such a 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”, Obi said.
