Labour Party reacts to reports of Peter Obi’s imminent arrest

• Obiora Ifoh, LP national publicity secretary, in a statement on Monday said the former Anambra state governor is not a violent person.
• Ifoh said some mischievous individuals are sharing stories “draped with some so-called prophecies calling for prayers on Obi as he would be arrested”

The Labour Party (LP) has described as mischievous a prophecy that Peter Obi, its presidential candidate in the last election, will soon be arrested.

Obiora Ifoh, LP national publicity secretary, in a statement on Monday said the former Anambra state governor is not a violent person.

Ifoh said some mischievous individuals are sharing a story in which the arrest of Obi was prophesied.

“Ordinarily, such stories should not deserve our attention,” the statement reads.

“However, we are concerned when the faux stories flying around are juxtaposed with video clips spliced from pre-election and campaign speeches where Obi had underscored to Nigerian youths, the importance of taking back our country.

“To contrive such videos as recent remarks and effort to make them look fresh, is simply mischievous, if not criminal.

“The ploy is simply and surely aimed at orchestrating a false culpability and entrapment.

“We must reiterate here for the record, Obi’s adherence and commitment to the rule of law and avowal of non-violent politics.

“On March 1st, 2023 when the INEC announced its charade election result by 4 a.m., Obi supporters across the country and in the diaspora mounted pressure on him to authorize a mass protest but he declined, insisting instead that taking back Nigeria through him will come through due and peaceful process and not via violence.”

The LP said the insinuation that Obi is masterminding violence is a “figment of the imagination” of those who want to paint him black.

“As a man of faith, the former Anambra state Governor strongly believes that a new Nigeria is POssible following due process and does not need to drag his supporters out in the street to achieve it,” the statement reads.

“The Labour Party; therefore, wishes to advise the prophets and soothsayers whether real or imagined, to leave Obi out of their prophecy because his faith is in Nigerians and his God and not on imaginary fortune tellers.”