Emma Elekwa

The Labour Party (LP) senatorial candidate for Anambra Central, Ven. Tochukwu Ikezue, has condemned what he described as sustained media campaign aimed at tarnishing the image of former Anambra State Governor, Mr. Peter Obi.

Ikezue, who spoke with journalists during a town hall meeting in Anaocha Local Government Area, alleged that the attacks against Obi were being sponsored by individuals and groups opposed to his political movement.

He said while it was normal in a democracy for Nigerians to hold divergent political opinions, deliberate attempts to insult, vilify and damage the reputation of political opponents were unacceptable.

According to him, those behind the alleged campaign should rather explain their achievements to Nigerians instead of concentrating on attacking Obi.

“We are fully aware that in a democracy, everyone cannot believe in him and everyone cannot support him. That is normal.

“What is abnormal, ungodly and unacceptable is the deliberate sponsorship of media urchins, hirelings and faceless groups whose only assignment is to castigate, insult and dent the hard-earned good image of Mr. Peter Obi,” he said.

The LP candidate also referenced a recent statement attributed to Obi in which he warned that efforts to build a new Nigeria would face resistance from beneficiaries of the existing system.

Ikezue argued that the alleged attacks against Obi were evidence of resistance from those who, according to him, had benefited from the prevailing political order.

He further expressed strong confidence in Obi’s political relevance, describing him as a symbol of hope for Nigerians seeking change.

The Anambra Central candidate urged Nigerians to remain focused on issues of good governance, accountability and national development, rather than what he described as propaganda and character assassination.

He said: “We therefore call on the APC and her cohorts to stop this shameful campaign of calumny and focus on telling Nigerians what they have done with the mandate they have held, rather than attacking the man Nigerians have chosen to heal their land.”

Ikezue maintained that the growing political influence of Obi could not be diminished by what he described as falsehood and negative publicity.

“Peter Obi is a movement. Peter Obi is the hope of the common man. No amount of lies can stop an idea whose time has come,” he added.