By Moses Paul

Today, Bayo Onanuga, in reckless and unsubstantiated claims, accused Mr. Peter Obi and his followers of trying to cause violence and mayhem in Nigeria and called for his arrest. Using inflammatory and threatening language, he called for the arrest and interrogation of Mr. Peter Obi and some individuals who are his followers.

It is crucial to reiterate that Mr. Peter Obi is, without a doubt, the most humble, tolerant, and peaceful politician in Nigeria today. His exceptional leadership qualities and commitment to peaceful coexistence are exemplary. Even his greatest enemies and opposition parties can attest to his unshakable dedication to maintaining a high level of decorum and respect, even in the face of provocation.

Despite being subjected to daily insults, character assassination, and name-calling by individuals like Reno, Bwala, and Bayo himself, Mr. @PeterObi consistently chooses to maintain issue-based politics. He often instructs us to ignore their provocations and not engage with them on their level, saying, “Leave them in their lowliness.” He always asks, “Will this provocation reduce the high cost of food items and suffering of the people?” He always chooses to maintain his humility and commitment to issues of good governance.

This demonstrates his remarkable ability to rise above petty politics and focus on the greater good, such as education, healthcare, and pulling people out of poverty.

It is astonishing that Bayo Onanuga would attempt to misrepresent Mr. Peter Obi’s character and accuse him of being involved in violence. This is a blatant lie, and we won’t stand for it. Mr. Peter Obi is the vanguard of change in Nigeria, and his patriotic conduct has been a beacon of hope for the country.

If the situation were reversed, and Mr. Peter Obi was faced with the kind of thugs that people like Bayo are working with, it is likely that the country would have been plunged into chaos by now. But Mr. Peter Obi’s commitment to peace and his unwavering dedication to the well-being of Nigerians continue to hold strong against all odds, as he has never supported or encouraged violence or unrest.

By Bayo Onanuga’s statement, there is no doubt that they are behind this planned protest, considering their characteristics both past and present. It is preposterous and outrightly mischievous for Mr. Onanuga to attribute these actions to Mr. Peter Obi.

Mr. Onanuga cannot claim to be unaware of public statements among the ranks of his political party and supporters of his Principal warning about the suffering and tension in the land and the likelihood of such protests. Just a few days ago, a ranking member of the Senate, Ndume, from the ruling party, echoed the same warnings, which were met with sanctions by their Party.

The supporters of Mr. @PeterObi are not anarchists or malcontents but rather concerned and responsible citizens who seek positive and democratic change in Nigeria. They are not responsible for the economic and governance challenges facing the country; they only advocate and demand better governance and accountability, and these should be heard and urgently addressed.

It is very important that this unwarranted outburst by Mr. Onanuga does not become an excuse for an assault on the freedoms and liberties of peaceful and law-abiding Nigerians, further escalating the tensions in the land. Let us focus on promoting peaceful and democratic expression rather than making inflammatory accusations and unnecessary threats. The government should prioritize solving the pains and suffering of the Nigerian people by meeting their needs and pulling them out of poverty rather than implicating and arresting Mr. @PeterObi, whose only “offense” is advocating for good governance and becoming a vanguard of a new Nigeria.

*Dr Moses Paul is a leader of the Free Nigeria Movement and writes from Abuja