The Peter Obi Media Reach (POMR) has reacted to the accusation by presidential spokesman, Bayo Onanuga that the planned youth protest of August 1 is backed by Peter Obi, Labour Party presidential candidate in 2023.
POMR in a response signed by the leader, Dr. Tanko Yunusa said Onanuga is by “his unfounded allegation trying to incite the federal government and its security agencies to arrest Obi.”
In the same vein, the Labour Party also said neither Obi nor the party has anything to do with the nationwide protest planned by Nigerian youths. Labour Party statement denying Onanuga’s claims was signed by its publicity secretary, Dr. Obiora Ifoh.
Ifoh said: “The attention of the leadership of the Labour Party has been drawn to a tweet purportedly from one of the presidential aides, Mr. Bayo Onanuga linking the Labour Party, its national leader Peter Obi, and very many notable figures in our party to the proposed ‘EndBadGovernance’ protest. We say that there is no truth in that and the tweet is just the author’s figment of his imagination.”
Yunusa’s reaction noted that “POMR can report from good and reliable authority that these unsubstantiated allegations are being orchestrated to arrest Obi, limit his freedom and association and stop his propagation for good governance which they find injurious to their lavish lifestyle.
Peter Obi by his mien in and out of political office has not in any way shown or been associated with violence even in the most obvious provocations.
He has always shown even during the electioneering that he is issue-driven as he carries on without calling anybody’s name.
POMR is also aware that multiple attack dogs have been hired and strategically deployed to ensure that Obi does not enjoy the ear of the Nigerian populace who are keen on hearing his voice on issues.
These spin doctors and hirelings, to justify their pay, indulge in all kinds of falsehood ostensibly to distract Obi and confuse Nigerians who already see Obi as suiting balm in the current turbulent political and economic environment.
All the problems real and imagined created by their insensitivity and lavish lifestyle they have curiously tried to link to Obi.
Notable challenges of the administration which are a consequence of their actions and inaction like fuel subsidy fallouts, growing poverty in the land, inflation, nepotism and unresolved historical conflicts among others they blame all on Obi.
POMR therefore wish to urge Nigerians to ignore the Presidency’s cheap blackmail as Obi and the Obidient family all over the country and in the diaspora remain resolute in their search for a new Nigeria that is POssible and would not be cowed or be made to lose focus.”
Further in the Labour Party’s reaction, it “Labour Party is known for being a very peaceful party and it has at several occasions asked its followers to follow peace at all times. We are not known as a lawless group as was evident in the aftermath of the last general election. It is therefore delusional for anyone to link our supporters to the planned protest. Labour Party, Peter Obi and our supporters are not planning any protests.
However, peaceful protests all over the world are initiated and executed by the people and not by the opposition. No opposition has any control over protests. Popular protests such as in Kenya, Egypt and several other places were a direct registration of the people’s frustration against the government. The opposition has the right to protest and it is within their constitutional right.
It is therefore puerile for the government or anyone for that matter to begin to look for who to blame for the bad governance that is being witnessed in Nigeria today. Nigeria can still get it right if the right policies are initiated. We also advise that some aides of the presidency must be cautioned to avoid incendiary pronouncements capable of combusting the nation, all in the name of playing politics.”
