Mr. Valentine Obienyem, a media assistant to Mr. Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s (LP) 2023 presidential candidate, has described the accusation against his principal of planning a coup to overthrow President Bola Tinubu a dangerous joke that has gone too far.
Along with calling the accusation irresponsible, seditious, and ridiculous, he added that in a functioning society, the person making the accusation would be detained right away to provide a more thorough explanation of what he knows. He also questioned the identity of the accuser and the reason for his lack of detention.
In a statement titled “Coup Plot Allegation: A Dangerous Joke Taken Too Far”, Mr Obienyem disclosed that one Arabambi alleged that Mr Peter Obi, alongside the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, President, Joe Ajaero, Senator Victor Umeh, and members of the Nenadi Usman faction, are plotting to overthrow President Bola Tinubu’s government.
Obienyem’s statement read, “In his petition to security agencies, Arabambi alleged that Mr. Peter Obi, the 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party, alongside Nigeria Labour Congress President, Joe Ajaero; Senator Victor Umeh; and members of the Nenadi Usman faction, are plotting to overthrow President Bola Tinubu’s government.
“This allegation is not just absurd, it is dangerous. Why has the man not been arrested?
“Coup plotting is not child’s play. It is a serious national security offence. To casually accuse citizens, especially prominent and responsible figures of attempting to topple a democratically elected government is not only reckless but seditious in itself.
“In a functional society, such an accuser would be arrested immediately to give a fuller account of what he knows. Who is this man, and why hasn’t he been arrested? If his allegation carries any weight, then the security agencies must take it seriously by interrogating him thoroughly, identifying his sources, and presenting evidence.
“However, if, as it appears, this is mere political mischief, he must face the full consequences of peddling such a dangerous falsehood. Why are we like this in this country, so frivolous with matters of grave national importance?”
“A coup is not a term to be bandied around like a political insult. It is treason. To accuse someone of it, especially in a democratic society, is to risk social unrest, undermine confidence in our institutions, and endanger lives. This is not politics; it is lunacy dressed in propaganda.
“Nigeria deserves better than this brand of politics. We must not allow desperation and factional rivalry to blind us to the red lines of national stability and security.”
