Victor EzejaThe Labour Party (LP) has refuted the allegation by Bola Tinubu’s presidential aide, Bayo Onanuga, that the party and its presidential candidate, Mr Peter Obi are linked to the ‘EndBadGovernance’.
The LP national publicity secretary, Obiora Ifoh, in a statement on Saturday, said there is no truth in Onanuga’s claim, adding that it is a “figment of his imagination.”
Join our WhatsApp ChannelOnanuga, who is the Special Adviser on Information and Strategy to President Tinubu, had in a post via his X handle accused Obi, his supporters, and some notable figures in the Labour Party of planning the nationwide protests scheduled to take place in August.
Onanuga said Obi should be held responsible for any negative outcome of the protest. He also called on security agents to go after the protest planners.
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However, the LP national publicity secretary said the party has always carried on its activities in a peaceful manner and never encourages violence.
The statement 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.”
Ifoh further stated that all over the world, citizens initiate and execute peaceful protests and no opposition party controls.
He wondered why anyone would link the Labour Party and its members to peaceful protests being planned by the citizens against bad governance.
“Popular protests such as in Kenya, Egypt and several other places were a direct registration of the people’s frustration against the government. The people have 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.”
Also reacting to Onanuga’s claim, a group known as Peter Obi Media Reach, (POMR) in a statement on Saturday, described the allegation as “baseless.”
The group said the allegation is a grand plan to arrest Obi, limit his freedom and association and stop him from further preaching about good governance.
“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 group said in a statement signed by its Spokesperson, Yunusa Tanko.
POMR further pointed out that going by Peter Obi’s disposition both in and out of political office, he has never in any way shown any sign or been associated with violence.
“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 spine 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 a soothing 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 inactions like fuel subsidy fallouts, growing poverty in the land, inflation, nepotism and unresolved historical conflicts among others they blame all on Obi.”
The group therefore urged Nigerians to ignore the presidential aide’s “cheap blackmail,” adding that it will not deter Obi and the Obidient family all over the country and in the diaspora remain resolute in their quest for a new Nigeria.
Victor Ezeja is a passionate journalist with six years of experience writing on economy, politics and energy. He holds a Masters degree in Mass Communication.
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