The presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in last year’s election, Mr. Peter Obi, has denied accusations by presidential spokesperson, Mr Bayo Onanuga, of masterminding a planned protest against hardship in the country.
The denial was contained in a statement by Obi’s spokesman, Yunusa Tanko, on Sunday.
According to the former Anambra State Governor, the allegations are a ploy to arrest Obi, limit his freedom, and stop his advocacy for good governance.
Tanko stated that Obi has never been associated with violence, even in the face of provocation, and has always been issue-driven, avoiding personal attacks.
He accused the presidency of hiring “attack dogs” to discredit Obi and distract him from his message of hope for Nigerians.
The statement further alleged that the presidency is attempting to blame Obi for its own failures, including fuel subsidy issues, growing poverty, inflation, nepotism, and unresolved historical conflicts.
He said, “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.”
Tanko urged Nigerians to ignore the presidency’s “cheap blackmail” and assured that Obi and his supporters remain resolute in their quest for a better Nigeria.