Obi accuses president of blackmail over protest plans

Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi has rejected presidential attempts to link him to planned protests in the country.

He was reacting to a statement made by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, regarding the planned protest by a group of Nigerians over the current economic hardship in the country.

Onanuga in a post on his verified X account on Saturday, alleged that Obi supporters were behind the planned nationwide protests against the Federal Government.

He described the Obidients as anarchists who should be held responsible for any chaos that might arise from the protests.

But in a statement issued by Peter Obi Media Reach spokesperson, Yunusa Tanko, the former Anambra State governor described the allegations as wild, malicious and baseless.

He stressed that the “baseless accusations” were orchestrated to arrest him and restrict his freedom and association.

The statement read: “The attention of Peter Obi Media Reach, POMR, has been drawn to the wild, malicious and baseless allegations made by one of the Presidential Spokesmen, Bayo Onanuga, accusing the Labour Party Presidential Candidate in the 2023 elections, Peter Obi, of masterminding the planned protests in the country.

READ ALSO: PROTESTS: President accuses Peter Obi supporters of plotting chaos

“The statement even said that Obi should be held responsible for any chaos that might occur during the protest. However, POMR can report from reliable sources that these baseless allegations are orchestrated to arrest Obi, curtail his freedom and association, and stop his propaganda for good governance which they see as detrimental to their luxurious lifestyle.

“Peter Obi, in his conduct in and out of political office, has never shown or been associated with violence even in the most obvious provocations. He has always shown, even during election campaigns, that he is issue-oriented as he acts without naming anyone.

“The POMR is also aware that a number of attack dogs have been hired and strategically deployed to ensure that Obi is not heard by the Nigerian people who want their voices heard on various issues.

“These spine doctors and other hired hands, in order to justify their salaries, engage in all sorts of lies that are ostensibly meant to distract Obi and confuse Nigerians who have looked to Obi as a panacea in the current volatile political and economic environment.

“The POMR therefore urges Nigerians to ignore the cheap blackmail of the President as Obi and the Obidient family across the country and abroad remain resolute in their quest for a new Nigeria that is possible and will not be intimidated or made to lose focus.”

Obi’s post accuses president of extortion at planned protest first appeared on Latest Nigeria News | Headlines from Ripples Nigeria.