By Afolabi Samuel Odunayo
Mr Peter Obi, the 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party, and Professor Pat Utomi, well known political economist and a prominent supporter of Obi, have both responded to accusations made by Mr Bayo Onanuga, a presidential aide, to the effect that Peter Obi and his supporters should be held responsible should any protests by youths bordering on ‘EndBadGovernance’ occur in the country.
In a statement released on Saturday by Yunusa Tanko, the spokesperson for the Peter Obi Media Reach (POMR), Obi described the allegation as baseless and a tactical ploy by the Tinubu-led administration to likely get him arrested.
In the statement, Obi, also a former governor of Anambra state denied the allegation that he was supporting or sponsoring any protests against the Tinubu-led administration.
Tanko who dismissed Onanuga’s claim, stated that it was a plan by government agents to infringe upon the constitutional rights of Obi and malign his political integrity amongst Nigerians.
The POMR spokesperson stated: “POMR can report from good and reliable authority that these unsubstantiated allegations are being orchestrated to arrest Obi, limit his freedom and association, and stop his advocacy for good governance, which they find injurious to their lavish lifestyle.
“Peter Obi, by his conduct in and out of political office, has not in any way shown or been associated with violence, even in the face of the most obvious provocations.”
Tanko, who accused the federal government of creating an unconducive atmosphere that encourages protests and disenchantment said Ini has nothing to do with any planned protests. He also raised concerns that the statement was a propaganda to impugn the rising profile of peter Obi in Nigeria, especially amongst the populace and young people.
“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,” he said.
He added: “All the problems, real and imagined, created by their insensitivity and lavish lifestyle they have curiously tried to link to Obi.”
In a separate statement, Utomi expressed dismay at the allegations raised by the Presidency, stating that he has not been in the country to know about any planned protest.
He revealed this in a post on his verified X handle, explaining that it was a friend who later told him about it:
“I have been residing in Washington, DC, and occupied by an intense Fellowship for months with additional work on a book project such that I did not even know demonstrations were being planned until I called a senior civil servant in Abuja, to whom I had sent a questionnaire on public policy reforms. I mentioned I would be in Ghana for events around the AU summit, and he said if you come into Nigeria, be careful that demonstrations in August do not cause you flight disruptions. That is how I heard of protests being planned.”
Prof Utomi maintained that he was surprised when he saw Onanuga’s post accusing him and others of being behind a planned protest he is not aware of.
“I would like Mr. Onanuga to present any evidence to justify his comment,” Utomi said.
It would be recalled that special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Mr Bayo Onanuga had on Saturday accused Obi and his supporters of being major supporters or sponsors of an alleged planned protests entitled “EndBadGovernance”slated for August 1, 2024.
