Following the outstanding victory of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal (PEPT), a rights group, Rising-Up for United Nigeria (RUN) has accused the Presidential Candidate of Labour Party (LP), Mr. Peter Obi who lost at the Tribunal of inciting the public by instigating armed groups and his followers to take the law into their hands.
In a viral video that has been circulating on the internet after the PEPT judgement especially in the South East, Mr. Peter Obi is heard telling his followers who are predominantly the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) that the time has come for them to take their destiny into their hands and that they should not rely on prayers and the judicial system, urging them to occupy the Presidential Villa and barricade it to force President Bola Ahmed Tinubu out, a direct incitement with the intent to cause civil disobedience.
RUN through a press release signed by the National Convener, Amb. Solomon Adodo and made available to journalist in Abuja, described Peter Obi’s inflammatory comments as unfortunate and a declaration of war on Nigeria’s democratic institutions and the electoral process, noting further that, utterances like this should not be taken lightly by security agencies especially when addressed directly to armed groups.
According to the statement, “it is a treasonable offense of unpardonable magnitude for a former governor and Presidential Candidate to be inciting the public simply because he lost an election instead of accepting his multiple defeats in a sportsmanly manner. It is shameful that he is now hiding under the banner of IPOB to achieve his unpatriotic ambition. We warned Nigerians that Obi is an IPOB sympathiser but nobody believed us. Now it is glaring he intends to use them to achieve his plans”
The group called on the Department of State Security (DSS) and other security agencies to intensify efforts especially in the South East region to bring an end to needless violence being unleashed in the region by the Mazi Nnamdi Kanu led group while also emphasising the urgent need for the repatriation of Mr. Sunday Ekpa, the self acclaimed BRGIE leader and Nnamdi Kanu’s protege who is working together with failed politicians to distabilise the region.
“With the intelligence at our disposal right now, the DSS needs to act fast. They must intensify efforts in arresting and prosecuting mischief makers no matter how highly placed they may be. With the unholy alliance with IPOB and some bigots, it is time to break their ranks and dessimate them. The DSS should also as a matter of national security liase with INTERPOL and other agencies to effect the arrest of Sunday Ekpa so that real peace can be restored in the embattled region.
“The Service should also tighten security around Nnamdi including vetting his visitors to avoid making the mistake of allowing IPOB spies and foot soldiers to sneak in information to him and take orders from him back to their camp. Restoring peace and putting an end to sponsored killings should remain paramount and criminal acts sponsored by selfish politicians must come to an end in the South East and elsewhere”, statement added.
The group finally called on Nigerian youths to shun the antics of failed politicians who have nothing to offer them aside using them as mercenaries to cause havoc, adding that, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu “holds great promise and has the roadmap for youth empowerment and economic development of the country. Supporting him is therefore the only option if they are desirous of a better future”.