By John Ogunsemore

An associate of Peter Obi, Dr. Moses Paul, has cautioned Sahara Reporters publisher, Omoyele Sowore against further personal attacks on the 2023 presidential candidate of Labour Party (LP).

Paul gave the charge in an X post on Monday.

He was reacting to a recent X post in which Sowore described Obi as “packaged fraud”.

Sowore, who vied for the 2023 presidency under the African Action Alliance (AAA), also called Obi’s supporters “hustlers, opportunists, bigots, dissemblers, gamblers, gerrymanders and carpet baggers”.

Reacting, Paul said Sowore’s constant vilification of Obi borders on personal vendetta.

“Even if Mr. Peter Obi were to die today, Mr. Sowore would still go after his family, that is the depth of his hatred. This relentless pursuit reveals an alarming level of animosity that goes beyond political rivalry and borders on a personal vendetta,” he said.

According to him, Obi governed Anambra State with integrity and transparency, leaving behind a legacy of prudent financial management and people-centered policies.

“Yet, detractors persist in fabricating baseless associations, even absurdly linking him to the actions of General Sani Abacha, a dictator with whom he had no ties.

“Such claims are not only unfounded but also reflect a desperate attempt to tarnish the image of a man whose record speaks for itself,” he said.

Paul quoted Obi as saying that his visits to Nigeria’s past leaders, Olusegun Obasanjo, Ibrahim Babangida and Abdulsalami Abubakar, which have attracted criticism from the likes of Sowore, were far more than about endorsement or approval but were about learning.

Paul said Obi believed that even if he could not draw from their positive contributions, there were invaluable lessons to be learnt from their mistakes.

“For those saying Mr. @PeterObi shouldn’t have attended IBB’s book launch, what they are essentially suggesting is that he should quit politics in Nigeria. In Nigerian politics, certain meetings, whether for genuine dialogue or optics, are simply part of the terrain.

“It’s like saying, “You can eat a frog, but not the legs,” or telling someone, “You’re my friend, so you shouldn’t talk to people who aren’t my friends.” Such reasoning is both unrealistic and impractical,” Paul added.