By Harry Awurumibe, Editor, Abuja Bureau
Disturbed by the desperation of the distractors, the Media Office of former presidential candidate in the 2023 general election and ex-Anambra state governor, Mr. Peter Obi has launched a fierce rebuttal against recurring allegations that he targeted Northerners during his time in office, describing the claims as “malicious falsehoods” designed to sow ethnic division for political gain.
In a strongly worded statement made available to the press at weekend, spokesman for the Obi camp, Alhaji Ibrahim Umar accused political opponents of reviving “outdated and dangerous propaganda” because they could not challenge Obi’s record of accountability, fiscal discipline, and development while serving as governor.
The statement dismissed as “utterly unfounded” the long-standing allegation that Obi deported or expelled Northerners from Anambra State, insisting that what took place under his administration was a social welfare and rehabilitation programme aimed at assisting vulnerable persons, including destitute individuals and unaccompanied minors from different parts of the country.
There was never any form of expulsion or ethnic cleansing,” the statement declared, maintaining that the intervention was purely humanitarian and extended to people from various states irrespective of ethnicity or religion.
Defending Obi’s relationship with Northern communities, the media office said his administration maintained “brotherly ties” with Hausa and Muslim residents in Anambra throughout his eight-year tenure.
According to the statement, Obi protected Northern communities during periods of ethno-religious tension across the country, particularly in areas such as the Onitsha Hausa Quarters, popularly known as Ama Awusa, where he allegedly prevented retaliatory attacks and ensured peace.
The statement further claimed that Obi’s government sponsored Muslim pilgrims to Mecca and created a safe business environment for Northern traders and livestock dealers operating in markets across the state, including Amansea.
The media office argued that the repeated attacks against Obi were politically motivated and driven by fears over his economic vision for Northern Nigeria.
It said Obi had consistently projected the North as the country’s economic backbone due to its vast agricultural potential and had repeatedly advocated policies aimed at transforming the region into “Africa’s food hub.”
“It is ironic that a leader who sees the North as Nigeria’s greatest economic asset is being falsely portrayed as an enemy of the region,” the statement said.
The Obi camp warned that it would no longer ignore what it described as coordinated attempts to distort the former governor’s record and inflame ethnic sentiments ahead of the 2027 political season.
Quoting Nazi propagandist Joseph Goebbels on the dangers of repeated falsehoods, the statement insisted that the allegations against Obi would eventually collapse under factual scrutiny.
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