The Labour Party’s National youth leader, Prince Kennedy Ahanotu has reacted to the call for the arrest of Mr Peter Obi the LP National leader and some respected leaders of the Labour Party by the President’s media aide Bayo Onanuga, whose statement suggested that, the Labour Party leaders were linked to the planned nationwide protest.
In a statement by the National youth leader which was released on Sunday stated that Mr. Peter Obi, a prominent Nigerian politician, is a staunch advocate for peace and whose calls for his arrest is baseless.
Prince Kennedy Ahanotu maintained that, It is due to Obi’s peaceful disposition that stops Nigerian youths from flooding to the collation center in Abuja during the manipulation of his clear electoral victory in the 2023 presidential election.
He therefore dissociate the baseless allegations leveled against Mr Peter Obi and the Labour Party by Bayo Onanuga and warned that any unlawful attempt to arrest Mr. Obi and other leaders of the party would be an affront to Nigerian citizens who believes in a better Nigeria.
“Let me state unequivocally that Mr. Peter Obi, a prominent Nigerian politician, is a staunch advocate for peace. Despite the manipulation of his clear electoral victory in the 2023 presidential election, he urged his predominantly youthful supporters not to engage in any form of protest or agitation.
It is worth noting that a mere statement from Peter Obi could have led Nigerians to flood the collation center in Abuja during that critical time.
Recall that in the past, a former president made incendiary remarks about making the country ungovernable if he was not elected. Shockingly, despite the ensuing violence and loss of lives, that individual was never arrested in 2011.
Similarly, during the last election, the current president encouraged his supporters to secure victory by any means necessary, even if it meant resorting to force. The Labour Party’s resounding victory over the APC in Lagos State and other regions attests to this.
Furthermore, it was the same current president who actively participated in protests against the government during the NADECO era. Why, then, this sudden fear of protests?
Mr. Peter Obi remains innocent of any incitement to protest, from the lead-up to the 2023 election until today. He is a law-abiding Nigerian citizen who contributes significantly to national development. Unlike many politicians who vanish after elections, he continues to support communities across the country as a private citizen.
The name “Mr. Peter Obi” unsettles the status quo politicians who resist acknowledging the global paradigm shift where the masses assert their political power. From the UK to Kenya, citizens are reshaping policies through strong statements and demands for good governance. Burkina Faso even celebrated a military takeover due to rampant mismanagement.
Regrettably, Nigeria has not progressed significantly beyond where our past heroes left us. Our fathers enjoyed scholarships, while today’s leaders offer student loans. Infrastructure, electricity, water, and security remain elusive. Our once-vibrant farmlands now lie fallow, and quality education has given way to unhealthy competition in private schools.
School sports and grassroots talent hunts have become relics of the past. Students in Nigeria no longer seek scholarships; instead, they yearn for a stable academic calendar that allows them to complete their four-year programs within the expected timeframe.
Today, Nigerian workers engage in debates, and panels convene to discuss their welfare—something almost unbelievable.
When an election is won, the government becomes beholden to the victor, while those who lost often feel intimidated. Is this truly a government of the people, by the people, and for the people?
Despite these glaring tendencies, the government seems averse to citizens expressing their discontent. It’s both ironic and perplexing.
Do citizens need Mr. Peter Obi to articulate their hunger? Must he highlight the practical inefficiencies of the current government? Was it Peter Obi who prompted Seun of Channels TV to address the president during a recent program? And more recently, did Peter Obi incite Senator Ali Ndume to declare that the APC government is failing? Let’s call a spade a spade.
Nevertheless, we unequivocally dissociate our democracy hero, Mr. Peter Obi, from any allegations leveled by Bayo Onanuga’s administration. Any unlawful attempt to arrest Mr. Obi would be an affront to Nigerian citizens who believe in a better Nigeria.
We implore the Nigerian security agencies—whose welfare pales in comparison to their global counterparts—not to be used as tools to suppress citizens’ political views.
Our democracy champion must not be baselessly arrested in Bayo Onanuga’s blame game.
Mr. Peter Obi’s vision transcends mere consumption; he aims to transform Nigeria into a productive nation. If the current government genuinely seeks practical strategies, consulting him would yield results. That, my friends, is governance. Bayo and company should cease the blame game.
Mr. Peter Obi consistently emphasizes that he isn’t desperate to become Nigeria’s president; rather, he’s desperate to see Nigeria work for its citizens, akin to other nations worldwide.
Let us not sacrifice our stars on the destructive altars of politics”.
