Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia
Mr Valentine Obienyem, media aide to the former presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, has dismissed the alleged petition against key leaders of the Labour Party for plotting to violently overthrow President Bola Tinubu, as “lunacy dressed in propaganda.”
Obienyem, in a statement titled “Coup Plot Allegation: A dangerous joke taken too far,” described the claims as “not just absurd but dangerously seditious.”
He warned that “such frivolous accusations could spark social unrest.”
Recall that an alleged petition to security agencies by one Arabambi, claimed that Obi, alongside Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) President Joe Ajaero, Senator Victor Umeh, and others, is plotting to overthrow the Tinubu administration.
Describing the accusation as reckless and irresponsible, Obi’s Aide warned the masterminds not to set the country on fire in the name of politics.
He said: “This allegation is not just absurd; it is dangerous. Coup plotting is a serious national security offence. To casually accuse citizens—especially respected public figures—of such is not only reckless but seditious.”
He queried the failure of security agencies to arrest the accuser for false alarm, and to ask him to substantiate his claims.
“In a functional society, such an accuser would be arrested immediately to give a fuller account of what he knows. Who is this man, and why hasn’t he been arrested?” Obienyem asked.
He stressed that accusations of treason should not be used as political tools, warning that such actions undermine national stability.
“A coup is not a term to be bandied around like a political insult. It is treason. To accuse someone of it, especially in a democracy, is to risk social unrest, undermine confidence in our institutions, and endanger lives,” he said.
He urged Nigerians to reject what he called a dangerous brand of politics driven by desperation and factional rivalry, insisting that the country deserves a more responsible and mature political climate.
“Nigeria deserves better than this brand of politics,” Obienyem stated.
“We must not allow desperation to blind us to the red lines of national stability and security.”
