Lai Mohammed’s treason allegation against Peter Obi is malicious – CSO

The Neo Africana Centre (NAC), a public policy think tank, has slammed the Minister of Information, Lai Mohammed, for the charge he levelled against Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s presidential candidate.

In a statement headlined “Stop Blackmailing Peter Obi,” written by its Director of Public Affairs, Jenkins Udu, on Wednesday, NAC described the minister’s outburst against Obi as “baseless, malicious, and in a bad state.”

Mohammed accused Obi of treason while speaking to international media organizations and NGOs in Washington DC on the 2023 general elections.

He told his audience that Obi was encouraging people to violence because of the outcome of the February 25 presidential elections.

According to the public policy think tank, Mohammed is on a mission of blackmail and deceit since the claim is without basis. NAC insists that Obi is recognized by everybody, including his accusers, to be innocent of the charge levelled against him.

The Centre was perplexed by the degree of disinformation being sold to the international community by a high-ranking Federal Government agent.

According to the think tank, a federal republic minister mounting the rostrum in a foreign land for blackmail and misinformation was irresponsible.

It accused the federal government and the ruling All Progressives Congress of a nefarious plan to tarnish Obi.

“We note with extreme concern the campaign of calumny being waged against Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s presidential candidate in the February 25 elections,” the statement reads in part.

“What is more worrisome is that the devious act is sponsored and pushed by the All Progressives Congress (APC) and its ruling arm at the President.”

The objective, as far as we can discern, is to tarnish Peter Obi and undermine his efforts to retrieve the mandate freely given to him by the Nigerian people. This indulgence by Alhaji Lai Mohammed, Minister of Information and Culture, is sinister, cheap, malicious, and in bad taste.

“From what we know and can see, Peter Obi has never called for violence.” Instead, he preaches peace and the rule of law.

“That is why he has gone to court over the presidential election results.” Obi, contrary to what Lai Mohammed stated, is just concerned with the subject he has filed in court.

“We are disappointed that the APC, which claims to have won an election, is fixated with one man, Mr Peter Obi.” This Obi phobia by the ruling APC casts a shadow of illegitimacy on its claim to the presidency.

“In fact, it is unconscionable that President Muhammadu Buhari’s federal government has dragged itself into this nasty partisanship.” We expect an administration that is about to pass over power in a few weeks to be focused on its transition plan rather than becoming a conspirator-in-Chief in the drive to discredit Peter Obi.

“It is regrettable that Alhaji Mohammed, who has a reputation for fabrications and falsehoods, has decided to export these toxic instruments to the international community.”

“We must remind the miscreants involved in this heinous act that it is Nigeria’s reputation, not Peter Obi’s, that is being damaged.”

“Obi’s involvement in the 2023 presidential elections was a watershed moment in Nigerian electoral history.” This reality is well known even to the international media, which Alhaji Mohammed is trying to mislead.

“We encourage the Nigerian government, its agencies, and the governing APC to stop their jittery mentality toward Peter Obi.”

“The controversial issues raised by INEC’s election administration are already before the courts.” Let their Lordships rule fairly and justly on them. This is what Nigerians are looking forward to. Dancing naked in the streets of Washington, DC, or any other foreign capital, is unhelpful.”