Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia
The Labour Party, LP, has slammed a civil society group, Concerned Citizens Network, CCN, for alleging that its presidential candidate, Peter Obi, is working with the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, in order to win the forthcoming presidential election.
Labour Party, which said Obi had to link whatsoever with IPOB, claimed that the attempt to associate its presidential flag bearer was aimed at de-marketing Obi’s candidature.
Ikengaonline reports that CCN had petitioned the United States of America, the European Union, and the United Kingdom, alleging that IPOB is supporting Obi for the forthcoming 2023 election.
But in a swift response, the Labour Party Presidential Campaign Council Spokesperson, Tanko Yunusa, dismissed the action of CCN as a plot to discredit Obi whose candidature is gaining both national and international acceptance and supporter every day.
He said that those who felt threatened by the massive swelling support for Obi and the pervading ‘Obedient movement’ across the country were using fictitious groups to fight back.
According to him, such lame scripts cannot even fly because Nigerians from all tribes and religious backgrounds are firmly united behind ‘Obi-Datti movement.’
He dismissed the allegation as a lie from the pit of hell, and urged members of the public to discountenance it.
Yunusa further argued that linking Obi with IPOB was akin to associating Atiku Abubakar with Boko Haram dominant in the North or Bola Tinubu with OPC operating in the South-West.
“It is a total lie, the allegations are completely false. This is like saying Atiku Abubakar of the PDP is receiving tactical support from Boko Haram terrorists or Fulani herdsmen, or that the OPC and MC Oluomo’s group are giving tactical support to Bola Tinubu of the APC.
“The truth is that Peter Obi has never been associated with any terrorist organisation, be it OPC, IPOB, or Boko Haram. He treats issues holistically as a nationalist and as someone who wants to come into power to treat issues accordingly.
“The records are there from what he did as Anambra Governor for eight years. When the IPOB issue started in Anambra, Obi treated it as every other crime perpetrated in his state, and that was why throughout his tenure there was no single bank robbery in Anambra. That is a pointer.
“However, he has listening ears to listen to anyone who has any agitation against the country and against the state in order to find solution to it. That is how leaders behave, and that is what epitomises Obi.
“But if a group of people believe in the candidature of Obi, that should not be termed as IPOB supporting him. That is a total lie, it’s a case of calling a dog a bad name in order to hang it.
“They’re only trying to disassociate us and demarket us amongst our people in the South-East. But we’re solid and determined to go all the way to win this election.”
Yunusa further said that such allegations coming against Obi were indications that the forces holding the country down had identified the former Anambra Governor as their major threat in the forthcoming presidential poll.
He enjoined all progressives elements in the country and the masses to sustain their unflinching support for Obi for the good governance and the total emancipation of Nigeria come 2023.
