A socio- cultural group in the South -east, Omalegwuoku Progressive Initiative (OPI), has advised the Presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the last general elections, Peter Obi, to stop creating what it called needless distraction for the Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led administration.
Secretary-General of the OPI, Ambassador Ginika Tor, made the declaration while speaking with journalists in Abuja on Wednesday.
The LP presidential candidate while speaking at a press conference on Wednesday, streamed live on Arise TV programme, ‘The Morning Show’, asked President Tinubu to explain to Nigerians his real home state and post – primary institution he attended.
He also claimed that the controversy trailing Tinubu’s certificate has affected the average Nigerian within and outside the country.
He said:” To the outsiders, the entire Chicago University matter, as well as Chief Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s many other lingering identity, question marks have further worsened Nigeria’s less than glorious image internationally.
“Uninformed outsiders now see every Nigerian as a fraudster, certificate forger, and identity thief. The controversy is unnecessary, and the implicit global embarrassment could have been avoided.”
Ambassador For, who incidentally was a member of the defunct APC Presidential Campaign Council, advised Peter Obi to stick to the issue of governance rather than be raising dust on President Tinubu educational background which she claimed has been settled by the deposition of the Chicago University Registrar, Caleb Westberg.
She said: “I realised that my own brother that I respect so much, Peter Obi, who is also the presidential candidate of Labour party, came up on ARISE TV to say that our president, a man that is the number one man in this country should come out and explain his state. So by now a man who served 8 years as a governor, you don’t know his state? Should tell us his background educationally, is that right?
“It is an insult to Nigeria as a nation. For you to call out our president who was massively supported, elected, confirmed and validated as the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to come and stand before who? To say he’s from this state, from this country, from this region, from this locality. Does he owe us that? What the President owes us now is to take us to our destination of choice.
“So, I am disappointed in a man that I respected so much, my brother, who stood in front to run for Igbos. It may not be his turn now, but it could come in future. But whatever he does now is going to play out in the future. So let us be cautious and let all Igbos not be misled by this press conference by our own brother.
“We are telling our brother, Obi, calm down, if God wanted you to be there, He would have made you the President. He did not. There is a lot of distraction on this President.”
The Secretary-General of the OPI maintained that what should be paramount to the average Nigerian is how the present administration would turn around their fortunes by moving the economy from its present unsavory status.
“We at OPI also want to use this opportunity to appeal to Nigerians to continue showing their understanding and confidence in the ability of Mr. President to solve many of our problems, especially economic and security issues confronting the country today. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is determined to tackle all these issues from the root and not applying cosmetic solutions to paper the cracks.
“In the past four months, the Tinubu administration is systematically laying the groundwork for a very prosperous Nigeria where the fruits of prosperity will percolate through the grassroot to the common man. The process may be thorny and harsh, but the destination will bring lasting relief and sustainable prosperity for all.
“We equally want to appeal to the President to continue to be meticulous in transforming the national trajectory of Nigeria both in terms of economy, security and political inclusion. On this note we call on Mr. President to equally find a way to include many competent progressives who share his development ideology and also worked tirelessly to help enthrone this government. Giving these categories of people the opportunity to serve in different capacities will be the surest way of quickly attaining the targets contained in his Renewed Hope vision since they are co-owners of the Renewed Hope Agenda.
“Finally we pray that the President will sustain his track record as a worthy father, a unifier and detribalized Nigerian to ensure equitable sharing in the forthcoming appointments in order to give everyone a sense of belonging and command national loyalty which will ensure that we remain an indivisible Nation and actualize peace and unity for the good of all Nigerians.”
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