The Obi-Datti Presidential Campaign Organisation has dismissed the claim that its candidate, Peter Obi, is using his brother’s academic certificate from the University of Nigeria.
The organisation also accused the Lamidi Apapa faction of the Labour Party of trying to tarnish Obi’s reputation and distract him from his mission to transform Nigeria.
In a statement issued on Monday by the Chief Spokesman of the organisation, Yunusa Tanko, he said that the allegation was baseless and malicious, and that Obi had nothing to hide about his educational background.
He said that Obi graduated from the University of Nigeria in 1984 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Philosophy, and that his certificate was authentic and verifiable.
Tanko also clarified that Obi’s late brother, who also attended the University of Nigeria, studied a different course and graduated years before Obi. He said that there was no way Obi could have impersonated his brother or used his certificate.
He said: “Obi in his capacity as Labour Party standard bearer had innocuously advised the embattled President to rest the certificate-gate around him and save the country further embarrassment by reintroducing himself and putting the records straight.
A simple patriotic advisory that was informed by belief in anything that is connected to national development, but their hirelings, freebooters and lawless adventurers prefer to insult our candidate with fabrications.
In one of his pieces of fiction, they claimed that Obi was impersonating his dead senior brother; a farce, slapstick comedy from hell. Obi’s most senior brother is alive. One of his senior brothers who died was in the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, UNN years ahead of Obi and read Computer Science while Obi read Philosophy.”
Tanko also lambasted the Lamidi Apapa faction of the Labour Party, which he described as “political hirelings and buccaneers” who were working for the ruling All Progressives Congress to undermine Obi’s chances in the 2023 presidential election. He said that Apapa and his spokesman, Abayomi Arabambi, were no longer members of the Labour Party, and that they had been expelled by the party’s National Executive Council for anti-party activities.
He said: “At the forefront of these malicious hatchet jobbers, is Dr Abayomi Arambabi, who dubiously continues even to identify himself as a member and Publicity Secretary of Labour Party. He and Chief Lamidi Apapa have been going about merchandising with the name of the party and endlessly castigating our flag bearer who we are proud to say is the most popular and loved Nigerian politician today.”
Tanko urged Nigerians to disregard the false allegations against Obi, and to focus on his vision and manifesto for a better Nigeria. He said that Obi had proven himself as a successful businessman, a visionary governor, and a patriotic leader who had the capacity and integrity to lead Nigeria to greatness.
He said: “We urge Nigerians not to be distracted by these desperate attempts to smear our candidate’s image and reputation. We urge them to look at his track record of achievements, his competence and character, his passion and patriotism, his vision and values. We are confident that Nigerians will make the right choice in 2023 by voting for Peter Obi as their president.”
