The media office of the Obi-Datti campaign has responded to comments made by former Edo State Governor, Adams Oshiomhole, where he accused the 2023 Labour Party Presidential candidate, Peter Obi of failing to tackle insecurity as Anambra state governor.
Addressing an audience at the All Progressives Congress’ Youth Forum in Abuja, Oshiomhole questioned how Obi intends to fix Nigeria’s security challenges when he couldn’t fix Anambra’s.
“Who was the governor when Bakassi developed in Anambra State? Who solved the problem? If a man could not fix the security challenges in Anambra State, which requires courage, how can he convince you that he will fix security all over Nigeria?” Oshiomole asked.
“So, when he (Obi) says, ‘I will fix Nigeria,’ ask him, have you fixed your state?” he added.
Responding to Oshiomhole, the Obi-Datti campaign in a statement, described the former APC National Chairman as an attack dog out to satisfy his audience.
ALSO READ: JUST IN: Kidnap kingpin Evans sentenced to 21-year imprisonment
They described his comments as mischievous, further refuting his claim that it was ex-Gov Willie Obiano who tackled the menace.
The campaign drew excerpts from a Newspaper report from 2014, when the then Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar, showered praise on Obi for fighting insecurity.
Excerpts from the statement read, “When the LP candidate told Nigerians severally to go and verify his past, he knew what the outcome of such verification would be, in his favor, except for attack dogs like Oshiohmole who would always stand truth on its head, fabricate tales ostensibly to satisfy his paymaster who incontrovertibly is not verifiable.
“If Comrade Oshiohmole had bothered to verify Obi’s security records as Anambra state governor, he would have found what the Inspector General of Police in 2014, Abubakar Mohammad said in Awka, Anambra state capital on April 10, 2014, shortly after Obi left office that was copiously captured by many mainstream and social media establishments on April 11, 2014.
“Oshiohmole but for mischief would also have found that Obi is on record to have been one of the most ruthless state Governors in tackling the kidnap menace in the country.
ALSO READ: Any policeman that slaps civilian risks 25-year jail term, Falana fires back at police
“It’s still green in everybody’s memory how Obi personally supervised the sealing off and demolition of hotels and buildings used by kidnappers and other criminal gangs in the state. Crime record in Anambra state under Obi was outstanding and security leadership never failed to appreciate this feat.
“Below we republish a story as published by one of the top National Dailies, the Nation Newspaper in the country on April 11, 2014 captioned “IG declares Anambra safest since five years.”
“The Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Abubakar Mohammed, yesterday declared that Anambra State remained the safest state in the last five years, according to police records.
“Abubakar, who was speaking at the Women Development Centre, Awka, at the state’s Stakeholders’ Summit, announced that there was no bank robbery in the state in the last five years during former Governor Peter Obi.
“He urged Governor Willie Obiano to emulate his predecessor by sustaining the security situation in the state.
“The inspector-general hailed the relationship between the police and the government under Peter Obi, which contributed to the improved security, and reassured Governor Obiano that the police would give him a 100 per cent support to rid the state of kidnappers and robbers.
“He urged Obiano to deal with any ruler who encourages crime in his community.“
The campaign urged Nigerians to be vigilant and resist attempts to impose proxy presidents through lies and propaganda.