Peter Obi,
the Labour Party’s presidential candidate, has refuted claims that he
referred to the 2023 elections as a religious conflict. He stated
that he is experiencing pressure to flee the country.
Here’s the
full text of his latest public statement expressed in a tweet thread last night:
“I continue
to thank all Nigerians, especially the youths and the Obidients, as they have
remained focused on the core mission of a New Nigeria that is POssible even
after the February 25, 2023 presidential election.
“Before,
during, and after the campaign, it is on record that I have maintained my
commitment and focus on issue-based campaign about a New Nigeria that is
POssible, a shift of emphasis from consumption to production, a New Nigeria
characterized by inclusion, justice, equity, fairness, and prosperity.
I repeatedly
stated that no one should vote for me based on Tribe or Religion, but rather on
the assessment of Character, Competence, Capacity, Credibility, and Compassion
that can be trusted to create a New Nigeria!
“The present
attempts by the APC as a Party, and the APC led-government through some
government officials and agencies to divert our attention from our blatantly
stolen mandate is unfortunate and sad.
“These have
come and continued to manifest in different ways, such as the malicious
accusation of the Minister of Information, Lai Mohammed, the circulation of a
fake doctored audio call, and a pressure on me to leave the country.
“Let me
reiterate that the audio call being circulated is fake, and at no time
throughout the campaign and now did I ever say, think, or even imply
that the 2023 election is, or was a religious war.
“The
attempts to manipulate Nigerians is very sad and wicked. Our legal team have
been instructed to take appropriate legal actions against Peoples
Gazette and others.
“While we
call on all concerned Nigerians and the International Community to implore the
APC and the APC led-government to stop their nasty attacks, my focus and
commitment to lawfully and peacefully retrieve our mandate to secure and unite
our Nation, take Nigeria from consumption to production, pull millions of
Nigerians out of multidimensional poverty especially in the North, and jumpstart prosperity
through agricultural, industrial, and technological revolution remain
unchanged.
“Elections are
over, and we are in court to retrieve our stolen mandate. Let me reiterate that
we are doing so through all lawful and peaceful options in line with our legal
system and constitution, and I continue to implore all Nigerians to remain
peaceful and law abiding.
“Those
fixated with heating up the polity, creating divisions, tensions and
hatred within and outside Nigeria should remember that Nigeria is our only
country. Our focus should be on how to address the litany of challenges facing
us, such as: flawed electoral processes, the parlous state of our economy,
unsustainable debt burden, lamentable unemployment and inflation,
insecurity, and multi-dimensional poverty. A New Nigeria is indeed POssible,
and God will help us.”
