We therefore conducted an independent investigation to ascertain the veracity or otherwise of the allegations
Coalition of Civil Society Against Electoral Violence, a civil society group, has said that the Labour Party presidential candidate, in the forth coming 2023 elections, Mr. Peter Obi, and his rising popularity, which is taking the nation in a storm, has pushed a certain presidential candidate into campaign of calumny
The group stated that Peter Obi’s supporters, who call themselves “Obi-dients” have thrown opponents into sleepless nights.
The group added that the claim by enemies of the New Nigeria movement, that Obi-dients are engaged in cyber bullying, is only existent in the infantile imagination of the purveyors of the false claim.
In a statement signed by Dr Hassan Ibrahim Shikafi (Executive Director), and Mrs Jumoke Olufemi. (Project Manager), the Coalition of Civil Society Against Electoral Violence arrived at the conclusion after a thorough investigation of the allegations against the Obi-dients.
Meanwhile, the coalition has raised an alarm of ongoing plans to discredit Obi, in a desperate bid to weaken his chances in the presidential elections next year.
“We have observed that the organic support the candidate of the LP and former Governor of Anambra State, Mr. Peter Obi, is enjoying across the nation, is giving some of his opponents sleepless nights.
“Consequently, they have resorted to blackmail and campaign of calumny against him, in a bid to demoralize and weaken his chances of winning the 2023 presidential poll.
“One of the tools deployed in that direction, is the wild and unsubstantiated allegations, that Obi-dients are disrespectful, unruly, and uncouth”, the group stated.
The statement reads in full: “As a civil society watch dog against Electoral violence in Nigeria, we received several formal and informal complaints from some Nigerians which claimed that the OBIdient movement who are the core supporters of H.E Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of Labour Party in Nigeria, are unruly and intolerant.
“We therefore conducted an independent investigation to ascertain the veracity or otherwise of the allegations.
“In the course of our investigation, some disturbing facts which pointed to the desperation of a presidential candidate who is having sleepless nights over the popularity of Peter Obi’s followers among Nigerians.
“Hence the resort to very dubious and desperate measures to discredit Peter Obi at all cost.
“As CSO, we have not endorsed any candidate for the 2023 presidential election but we are duty bound report our findings for the Nigeria populace to know exactly what this desperate politician is doing to his fellow candidate. Some of our findings are as follows:
“that the presidential candidate in question out of desperation simply deployed infiltration, disguise and extremism – all aimed at giving Peter Obi a bad name just to discredit him.
“The assignment is Balsamically as simple as; “create enemies for Peter Obi and make people hate him”. Also hide his positive attributes and magnify his odds. The narrative is to reemphasize the imaginary stigma labelled on the Igbos as a secessionist tribe who are only looking for power to divide the country. Hence tagging Peter Obi as the man behind IPOB and that his supporters are IPOB members who switched icon.
“Their mission is basically to; hide the fact that Peter Obi has supporters outside the Igbo tribe and make it look as if his supporters are mere Igbos with loyalty to IPOB not Nigeria”.
It continued: “Portray his supporters as children of hate, bitterness and extremist who have no decorum or regard for stakeholders and elders who may have contrary views against Obi’s candidacy.
“Cook up all manner of lies and propaganda against Peter Obi using the media and social media.
“Tactically give soft landing to their real paymaster directly or indirectly.
To achieve these, they used various means such as: Disguise as core OBIdients on social media with fake accounts but highly unruly, hostile and abusive with regard to elders, stakeholders, authorities and other people’s opinions.
“They also created groups on Facebook, WhatsApp and other platforms as well as added their disguised OBIdient gang to insult people whenever they raise genuine concerns on way forward.
These machineries are also in the space of others rudely challenging their opinion. They have also created multiple accounts even in the name of Obi, Datti and other LP officials making derogatory statements against anyone who disagrees with Obi including clergymen and celebrities.
“Buying over many politically inclined persons with verified social media handles and a followership of above 10,000 who will indirectly and directly with high level of subtilty be used to project their campaign.
“Contracting of some foreign IT firms to hack and “shadow” accounts of influential PO supporters. Shadowing is a process whereby any post that has positive publicity on Peter Obi will be restricted to reaching very few people.
“Training of individuals from the 36 states and the FCT considered as intelligent, crafty and professionals. Their task is to manipulate, use lies and propaganda against Peter Obi and the Labour Party.
“They will also defend and dilute every weighty mistake of the said candidate as harmless.”
While we must state clearly that we are not holding brief for him and his Obidient movement but we must however set the record straight; that a desperate presidential candidate and his cohorts have infiltrated into the Obident movement with a view of de-marketing Peter obi.
“We therefore call on all Nigerians to ignore the recent campaign of calumny against Peter Obi and the Obidient movement as it is the handwork of a desperate presidential candidate who has lost touch with the people and is doing everything possible to discredit Peter Obi.”
Nigerians are therefore advised to vote for the candidate of their choice based on competence, integrity and proven track records amongst others.