Mr. Peter Obi, the presidential candidate for the Labour Party (LP), has been warned by the federal government against inciting violence in Nigeria over the February 25 presidential election outcome. The Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, revealed this on Tuesday at the Council on Foreign Relations in Washington, DC, whilst speaking on the just conducted general election. He stated to the media that Obi was wrong to redress the election outcome in court and encourage violence among Nigerians.
It is reprehensible, the minister added, for Peter Obi and Datti Ahmed, the LP vice-presidential candidate, to frighten Nigerians that democracy would end if the president-elect, Bola Ahmed Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) party is inaugurated on May 29. He went on to label this an act of treason and a call to insurrection against the government. Mohammed claims that Obi’s statement is that of a desperate person and not a democrat he portrayed himself to be, saying that a true democrat should not just believe in democracy only when elected.
Constitution sets high standards for anybody running for president.
He went on to say that neither Obi nor Atiku, the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), had a chance even as they try to challenge the results of the election. The minister also claims that Obi and Atiku do not meet the necessary constitutional standards to be proclaimed president. The constitution sets high standards for anybody running for president. He pointed out that a candidate would need more than just a simple majority of votes to win an election; but would also need at least one quarter of vote casted in at least 25 states.
According to him, only the president-elect, Tinubu, met the constitutional standards, with 8.79 million votes and one-quarter of the votes in 29 states. Atiku, who came second with 6.9 million votes, only had one-quarter of the votes casted in 21 states. Whereas Obi, in third place, had one-quarter of the vote in just 15 states. He further said that Peter Obi, despite his allegations of fraud, has not renounced his victory in Lagos state, adding that a candidate who came third in the poll and did not meet the constitutional standards could not have won.
The just concluded general elections in Nigeria was the fairest.
While explaining his purpose in the United States, the minister said that his trip was to establish the truth and refute the negative narratives propagated by those who oppose the elections outcome. He stated that this is to make it clear to the world — that the just concluded general elections in Nigeria was the fairest, most transparent and credible in Nigerian history. This, he said, was made possible due to the introduction of the Bimodal Voters Verification System (BVAS), which he regarded as a game changer.
After being declared the third ranked candidate in the presidential election, Mr. Obi filed a lawsuit seeking to recover what he called his “stolen mandate.” Thus far, he has also filed a petition questioning the eligibility of the president-elect as a presidential candidate under the constitution. Obi, however, in a tweet posted on his official Twitter timeline responded to the minister’s claim that he was encouraging an insurrection. In the thread he said “Minister Lai accusing me of stoking insurrection is totally malicious and fictitious”.
Obi is said to have described the election as a “Religious War.”
Continuing on he stated, “I am on record as always, advocating for peace and issue-based campaigns and never campaigned on the basis of ethnicity or religion.” Amidst this, a cryptic call recording purportedly featuring Obi and Bishop David Oyedepo’s voices was leaked online. The call conversation, in which Obi is said to have described the election as a “Religious War,” has now gone viral, leaving many people baffled. Obi, though, has declared the call conversation on the recording “fake” and threatened to take legal action against the blog that leaked the call recording.
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FG warns Peter Obi against inciting violence – Minister label Obi’s act as a call to insurrection an act of treason. – Express your point of view.
Obi’s comments were critical of the government’s handling of insecurity in Nigeria, there was no direct call for violence or an attempt to overthrow the government by force. Therefore, the label of “insurrection” may be inaccurate and unfounded and treason appears to be an overreaction and an attempt to silence critical voices in the country.
I don’t understand how Peter Obi has invited anybody. He hasn’t made treasonable or seditious statements, so he should be left alone. We cannot silence him, he must continue to be in Nigeria to prove his case in court.
Obi have to beware of where his court action and movement is inciting among the citizens. His followers on every platform have turn to bitter people and attack anyone that have different opinions to theirs. His action his also bringing about religious war as we heard in the alleged voice note he denied.
Honestly I feel Obi has the right to speak up if he thinks the election result and process is not credible. The should not stop him from exercising Is freedom of speech and expression.
It is absurd that Obi would instigate mayhem within Nigerians and try to correct the outcome of the leadership contest in court; he ought to be penalised for his actions.
Obi should be aware that purpose of this journey was to determine the truth and disprove the negative tales that have been spread by individuals who disagree with the outcome of the election.
No one is above the law and if obey is disobeying the law he should be punished too, but I don’t really see any problem he hasn’t invited any violence in my opinion,
If peter obi is not satisfy with the election result he should kindly go to court not to be inciting violence, violence should not be allow in the society he should be punish if he done wrong thing that can disturb the peace of the country I think he is the one candidate who have not give up the candidate who came second give talkless of him that came third
When the INEC the umpire that conducted the election doesn’t follows her own guide lines nothing less should be expecting from the contestants and the general public.The election that both the international and local observers condemn that doesn’t leave up to standard not to talk of international standard,Mr Lai is saying is the fairest election.Something is seriously wrong somewhere.
FG warns Peter Obi against inciting violence. Smiling, what kind of scammed country is Nigeria? Anybody or any person or any individual of any kind who say that the Election is free and fair is worse and heartless as the devil. So many intimidation during the last two election. And some people or federal government is warning against inciting violence when they are the main violence in Nigeria. Enemy of good, law breakers. Peter Obi has not done any wrong or invite any violence. Note
If Lai Mohammed can be saying all these nonsense against Peter Obi and Atiku, then where is democracy, where is true federalism?where is freedom of speech and transparency?They are gradually killing the right of the youth and enforcing themself on the youth. It is not about religion’s war, it is not about tribe but the right of the youth.
If the federal government didn’t step into the political arena in the country, it might lead to anarchy and irreparable damage in the country.