Information Minister Lai Mohammed on Tuesday in Washington DC accused Labour Party’s Peter Obi of inciting violence against president-elect Bola Tinubu.
In an interview on Channels TV, the running mate to Labour Party (LP) Presidential Candidate, Datti Baba-Ahmed made a statement that is now whipping up different reactions.
Mr Baba-Ahmed said that if President-elect, Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) is sworn in on May 29, it would be “the end of democracy in Nigeria”.
The APC camp did not receive this statement with joy and they said the statement was inciting violence.
Furthermore, the Nigerian Broadcasting Commission (NBC) fined Channels TV ₦5 million as a result.
Lai Mohammed Treason Allegation
Also, Nigeria’s Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, commented on it in Washington DC on Tuesday.
He also spoke on a leaked audio conversation that reportedly happened between Peter Obi and Bishop Oyedepo of the Living Faith Church.
The audio clip reportedly had Obi trying to convince the Bishop to make Christians reject the Muslim-Muslim ticket of the APC.
You Should Read: Information Minister Lai Mohammed Sends Warning To LP’s Obi Over Inciting Violence
“This is treason. You cannot be inviting insurrection, and this is what they are doing,” says Mr Mohammed
“Obi’s statement is that of a desperate person. He is not the democrat that he claimed to be.
“A democrat should not believe in democracy only when he wins the election,” he adds.
Obi Comments
Mr Obi reacts to the minister’s statement and the events that have happened in the past few days.
He says the treason allegations against him cannot stand, as all he has ever preached is peace.
“In the past few days, I have observed various campaigns of calumny directed at my person, Mr Obi says in a tweet.
“With the latest being allegations attributed to the Information Minister, Lai Mohammed from Washington DC.
According to him, this is part of efforts to portray him as what he is not.
In the past few days, I have observed various campaigns of calumny directed at my person, with the latest being allegations attributed to the information Minister, Lai Mohammed from Washington DC.
— Peter Obi (@PeterObi) April 4, 2023
Malicious And Fictitious
He says the accusation from the information minister is “totally malicious and fictitious”.
“I have never discussed or encouraged anyone to undermine the Nigerian state.
“I have never sponsored or preached any action against the Nigerian state.
“Those initiating these actions have increasingly used their official positions and agents to make false allegations against me.
“I am on record as always, advocating for peace and issue-based campaign and never campaigned based on ethnicity or religion.
“I am committed to due process, and presently seeking redress in the Court,” the LP Candidate adds.
However, he urges those involved in this “demarketing process” to stop presenting Nigeria in such a bad light.
According to him, our future generations deserve a new Nigeria, where they can live a secure and decent life like their counterparts in other climes.
