By Sunday Ani, Idu Jude, Abuja and Geoffrey Anyanwu, Enugu
Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has demanded from the Special Adviser on Communication and Strategy to the President, Bayo Onanuga, a retraction of his wild allegation that he was behind the nationwide mass protest being planned for August.
Onanuga had, on July 20, 2024, claimed in his X handle @aonanuga1956 that Peter Ob’s supporters were the people planning mayhem in Nigeria and that Obi should be held responsible for anarchy.
Obi, writing through his counsel, Alex Ejesieme, of the MADIBA Chambers, said the allegation which was widely published in social and mainstream media, and read by many within and outside the country, maligned his hard-earned reputation as a man who indulges in violence when his antecedents are vivid that he abhors violence even in the face of extreme provocation.
“It is our client’s conviction that the publication was a calculated plot to demean, ridicule, humiliate, and embarrass him by the estimation of every right thinking member of the society,” he said.
The letter continued that the allegation might have achieved its insipid motive as well-wishers from all around the globe had inundated Obi to register their shock.
“His appellation as ‘Okwute’ (the Rock) notwithstanding, the demeaning and scandalous publication has also caused a serious emotional injury to our client given his decades of stellar stewardship in private and public life.
“Consequently, we have our client’s mandate to demand that you retract the statement made in the publication and tender an unreserved apology to him within 72 hours of the receipt of this letter in not less than four national dailies to wit: Vanguard, THISDAY, Punch and the Cable, including your verified X@aonanuga1956.
“Our client is also making an unequivocal demand for the monetary damage of N5 billion for the embarrassment your defamatory publication has caused him and his family.
“In the event of your failure to meet the demands set out above, our client shall be constrained to approach a court of competent jurisdiction and take legal action against you for defamation and libel.”
Renowned political economist, Pat Utomi, has also vowed to sue Onanuga.
In a statement on Monday, Utomi advised Onanuga to withdraw his statement or provide evidence of his claims. He warned that he would sue Onanuga and claim N500 billion if he failed to provide sophisticated evidence.
In another reaction, the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB), warned the Federal Government on the danger of inciting Nigerians against Obi, insisting that the government’s “evil plots against him would all fail.”
This is as the South East Revival Group (SERG) condemned Onanuga’s allegation that Peter Obi was behind the planned nationwide protests against hardship scheduled to begin on August 1.
In a statement signed by its National Secretary, Agu Chineme, the SERG urged the Federal Government not to politicise hunger and deprivation in the land, noting that impacts of bad governance does not spare anybody on the basis of tribe, religion or political affiliation.
“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s handlers could plunge the country into chaos with their reckless propaganda and desperation to continue the now nine years of blame games of the failed successive All Progressives Congress (APC) administrations.
“It is ridiculous and unbecoming of a government that has failed to deliver on its promises to resort to spreading falsehoods and lies about a citizen who has contributed immensely to the development of Nigeria.
“This shameful position by a government that has chosen to spread falsehoods and lies about Peter Obi instead of finding ways to help hungry and suffering masses of Nigeria who are struggling to find their next meal amid insecurity, unemployment, and lack of access to adequate healthcare across the country is unacceptable,” the frontline South East socio-political pressure group declared.
On the same issue, the leadership of MASSOb berated the Federal Government on its attack on Obi and threat to arrest him over the planned protest by aggrieved Nigerians, saying that the Federal Government was just chasing shadows as the protest has nothing to do with the former Anambra State governor.
MASSOB leader, Uchenna Madu, while describing Obi as a true nationalist, said: “The heavy and massive incoming protest against hunger, high cost of living, government high corruption, impunity and government insensitivities against the welfare of the citizens is not planned or orchestrated by Obi or his nationwide supporters.”
In a statement, yesterday, the MASSOB leader also said the President Bola Tinubu-led Federal Government was aware that “the motivation and inciting of the massive organised protest is not influenced by Obi but the northern oligarchic leaders, including some powerful northern political, religious, opinion and traditional leaders.
“The primary aim of these northern political bourgeoisies is not for the interest of poor Nigerian masses but for their advancement plot to hijack power back to Arewa interest in 2027. It is not about Obi or his supporters’ interest.
“Bayo Onanuga and Reno Omokri are two leading internal and external figures sponsored by the Tinubu-led Federal Government in waging wars of character assassination, blackmailing and incitement against Obi.”
Further describing Obi as, “detribalised hope of the common citizens, MASSOB stressed that the Labour Party leader was being celebrated nationwide as the hero of modern democracy in Nigeria.
“Though MASSOB believe in Biafra restoration, we acknowledge the input of Obi in the advancement of uniting the Nigeria state.”