The Peter Obi Support Network has slammed the All Progressives Congress presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, accusing him of wishing the Labour Party presidential candidate, Mr Peter Obi, and his supporters dead.
The group in a statement, observed with dismay that Tinubu has refused to condemn the “obituary” column written by one of his aides, Mr Sam Omatseye, published on Monday.
The statement which was signed by the Deputy Director of Communications, POSN, Mr Adegbite Adekunle, on Wednesday, said Omatseye, had in the article, wished the Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, and his supporters dead.
The group said, “If Tinubu did not sanction that article, it would not have been published.
“If he did not sanction it, by now Omatseye would have been sacked or, at least, reprimanded for that satanic piece.
“For Tinubu and his camp to keep quiet on this sacrilegious write-up by one of his confidants and published by his own newspaper speaks volumes. It betrays Tinubu’s endorsement of the column which has attracted widespread condemnation, except from the Asiwaju and his camp.”
It noted that this is the second time in barely three weeks that the APC camp is praying for death in the Obi camp, recalling that Tinubu himself during an APC rally in Osun State on July 13 publicly declared that Labour Party’s ‘Obidients’ – as Obi’s supporters are otherwise known – would labour till death.
The statement read in part, “The APC has brought in ethnicity, religion and now death wish into the 2023 campaign. It portends grave danger.
“Ethnicity: He was the only presidential candidate who said, ‘It is my turn. It is Yorubas’ turn’. Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and others accentuated it with their ethnic comments and actions.
“Religion: He was the only one who disregarded the religious plurality in his choice of running mate, thereby making religion a talking point in this campaign season.
“Repeated reference to death – He was the one who said that Labour Party supporters will labour in vain to their death. Now he has published a full-page article in his newspaper (The Nation) referring to #PeterObi as ‘OBI-TUARY’, another reference to death. In that same article, he also engaged in the demonisation of the Igbos, a clear attempt to set Igbos up for hate and attacks.
“It is obvious the Tinubu’s camp is desperate and ready to fight dirty in this campaign. But this is not 2015. The people are ready to meet them squarely.”
The group, therefore, challenged the Independent National Electoral Commission, as the electoral umpire, not to be indifferent to the excesses of Tinubu and his supporters.
“While Tinubu is free to pursue his life ambition to become Nigeria’s president by hook or by crook, he should realise that Nigeria is bigger than his selfish ambition and should refrain from unnecessarily heating up the polity. INEC should call him to order without further delay before he plunges the country into needless chaos with his unguarded utterance and hate speech,” the group added.
The PUNCH