Oshiomhole accused of using Peter Obi’s popularity to seek relevance

Former National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Adams Oshiomhole, has been criticized over his latest criticism of the Labour Party, LP, presidential candidate, Peter Obi.

Oshiomhole was accused of leveraging on Obi’s popularity to seek relevance.

The former APC National Chairman had berated Obi for failing to tackle insecurity while he was the Governor of Anambra State.

Addressing a youth conference in Abuja, Oshiomhole said the immediate past Governor of Anambra State, Willie Obiano, took some major steps towards tackling insecurity because Obi failed during his tenure.

He recalled how Obiano upon assuming office destroyed houses used by kidnappers in Anambra State.

Oshiomhole claimed that the houses demolished by Obiano’s administration were used by Bakassi Boys.

“Who was the governor when Bakassi developed, and who solved the problem? So, if a man could not solve a security challenge in his own state, which requires courage. How can he convince you that he will solve security challenges all over Nigeria?

“Don’t take it from me, go to Youtube and find out the first six, nine months of Governor Obiano and ask yourself, who was his predecessor? It will tell you it’s Peter.

“If he has solved the security problem, will Obiano be using bulldozers to demolish houses of kidnappers, Bakassi boys, Bakassi girls, bandits?”

Condemning Oshiomhole’s comment, a Civil Society Organisation, Conference of Civil Society for Peace and Good Governance Initiative (CCSFPGG), described the former Edo State governor as an inconsequential politician looking for relevance through Obi’s popularity, after failed political outings both at national and Edo State levels.

The group stated this in a statement signed by its National Coordinator, Dr Oshioke Mathew Afegbua and Director of Internal Security Research, Hajiya Maryam Mohammed.

The group urged Nigerians to be wary of Oshiomhole because he is desperately searching for political relevance.

The statement reads: “Oshiomhole is the least politician in Nigeria to denigrate Peter Obi, who has become Nigeria’s most popular choice for the coming general election.

“We have not forgotten that as a governor, Oshiomhole ran Edo like a tin-pot despot on the matrix of empty populism.

“Oshiomhole helped to impose the fading APC administration on Nigerians.

“Under this administration, human lives have been reduced to nothing. The country has become an abattoir where human beings are helplessly being slaughtered at will.”

The group urged Oshiomhole to apologize to Nigerians over the pains he caused them.

“We urge Oshiomhole and his party to apologize to Nigerians for the pain they have put them in, instead of talking down on the most popular presidential candidate in the history of Nigeria,” it further said.