By John Ogunsemore
The Peter Obi Media Reach (POMR) has said the accusation from the presidency that the former governor is behind the planned nationwide protest is a ploy to get him arrested.
POMR Spokesman, Yunusa Tanko said this in a statement on Saturday in response to the recent accusation from presidential spokesman, Bayo Onanuga.
Onanuga, who is Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, alleged that supporters of Peter Obi, the 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), are behind the planned nationwide protests.
The presidential aide titled his viral social media post, “REVEALED: Peter Obi’s supporters are the people planning mayhem in Nigeria: Obi should be held responsible for anarchy”.
Onanuga said, “Don’t be fooled: the malcontents planning to stage nationwide protests are supporters of Peter Obi, the failed presidential candidate of the Labour Party. And he should be held responsible for whatever crisis emanates from the action.”
Onanuga tagged those behind the planned protest as “agents of destabilisation” and urged the security agents to interrogate them.
In its statement, POMR described the allegations as “wild, wicked and baseless”.
“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,” the statement reads in part.
“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 said it was 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.
It said the agents have resorted to spinning falsehood to distract Obi and confuse Nigerians.
POMR accused the presidency of blaming all its self-inflicted problems on Obi and urged Nigerians not to be swayed by falsehood.
“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 inactions like fuel subsidy fallouts, growing poverty in the land, inflation, nepotism and unresolved historical conflicts among others they blame all on Obi.
“POMR, therefore, wishes 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,” the statement further reads.