Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 elections, says he has never encouraged members of the Obidient movement to insult leaders within the opposition coalition.
Speaking during an engagement at the movement’s secretariat
on Tuesday, Obi said abusive attacks allegedly carried out in his name do not
reflect his political values.
The ADC chieftain said he enjoys cordial relationships with
key figures in the coalition and would not endorse insults against them.
He added that members of the ADC must show respect to one
another, insisting that name-calling has no place in their politics.
“Let me tell you here, most of the things you hear…
criminals that are not Obidient people. You don’t see anybody calling the other
a bad name. We are not asking for division, I personally do not in any way… you
have never seen me call anybody a bad name,” Obi said.
“We are in the ADC and respect everybody there. But as for
calling people bad names, we are not in support of it. I don’t subscribe to it
and I am not part of it.
“The people I met there, down to the party chairman, are my
elder brothers. People like Atiku are my leader and a very respected elder
brother. Amaechi is my brother, and we are very close.
“So also is el-Rufai. Name them, all the people who are
there — Liyel Imoke, Oyegun, Aregbesola. These are my colleagues. So how do I
say anything bad about them?”
Obi assured his supporters that he does not promote attacks
on fellow opposition leaders, blaming some individuals for attempting to damage
his reputation.
“Those who are following me, I assure you, will not say
anything bad about them. But some elements are trying to do that to hurt the
Peter Obi brand,” he said.
“That is not what we should be doing in politics. Let us
talk about out-of-school children, hungry and unemployed Nigerians, insecurity,
and how random abduction of people — where about 150 worshippers are being
kidnapped in churches and mosques — is occurring. That should be our
pre-occupation.”
The comments come amid reports of internal tensions within
the ADC linked to Obi’s presidential ambition after joining the party.
Leading opposition figures, including former Vice-President
Atiku Abubakar and Obi, have both signalled interest in contesting the
presidency in 2027.
Supporters of different hopefuls have also been divided over
zoning, with many Obi loyalists calling for the ticket to remain in the south,
while Abubakar’s camp is pushing for an open race.
On January 20, Abubakar warned supporters of opposition
leaders against trading insults, saying such attacks only strengthen the All
Progressives Congress (APC).
He said anyone who insults Obi or himself does not have the
coalition’s interest or that of Nigerians at heart.
On January 6, Abubakar said no presidential hopeful in the
ADC would step down ahead of the 2027 election, adding that all qualified
aspirants would “present themselves freely” once the party begins its selection
process.
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