The rising profile of HE Peter Obi, and growing fortunes of Labour Party have become such a bitter pill for some Nigerian retrogressive status quo politicians to the extent of apparently committing huge amounts of money in creating and spreading falsehood.
By Adesuwa Tsan
365Daily – Vice Presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Yusuf Datti Baba Ahmed (YDBA) has warned his followers and the general public of fake social media accounts operating in his name.
This is just as he dissociated himself from the creation, ownership, and operation of any such social media accounts.
Speaking at a press conference on Monday, August 1, 2022, Baba Ahmed equally declared that all exchanges and communications from such accounts were without his knowledge or input in any way whatsoever.
He, therefore, called on the general public on and off line to disregard any and all exchanges and communications from the fake social media accounts, while urging social media platforms owners, creators, and operators to immediately realise the dangers their highly valued technologies portend in society, and quickly responsibly rise to the challenge of preventing further creation and use of fake accounts.
“I call on the discerning general public, particularly our dear Obidient and Useful followers, to exercise patience until the resolution of these Complaints after which we genuinely communicate towards rescuing Nigeria,” he appealed.
The text of the conference has been reproduced below:
*TEXT OF YDBA PRESS CONF ON FAKE SOCIAL MEDIA ACCOUNTS*
*A. Timelines*
1. Impostors had right from inception of the various social media platforms opened accounts in my name before me. I wrote several complaints accordingly which were never attended to satisfactorily. This situation remained for nearly a decade, and I decided to rather be inactive on the platforms till my complaints were resolved.
2. On 24 May 2022 I withdrew from Kaduna State Governorship Primaries under the PDP on grounds of divergent principles
2. From 25 Jun 2022, I began receiving indications of a possible calling to serve my nation again, this time under Labour Party which culminated in my unveiling on 8 July, 2022.
3. I was interviewed by BBC immediately after the event, only to find contents of the interview misrepresented by another social media page. A complaint was immediately made, and this page eventually removed the misrepresented news article, but only after much damage caused.
4. Ever since indications began to appear about my joining the Labour Party, more impostors hurriedly opened more accounts in my name, in most cases misspelled or in wrong format.
5. Complaints about the fake accounts have been duly lodged with the relevant host platforms, while I wait and continue to suffer the consequences of mischievous communications done by others in my name.
6. I must acknowledge and appreciate the diligence of well-meaning followers who were quick to observe and object to these accounts on basis of their good knowledge of me.
*B. The Situation*
7. Some of these communications have been, and continue to be, premeditated and designed to set me against legitimate responsible religious organisations, and in some cases portray me negatively in relation to certain sentiments and core values of our society.
8. There is sufficient justification to conclude that these unholy acts against a real change agent at a politically sensitive period may be sponsored by opponents and enemies of progress to stain my image and distract us from the noble objective to rescue Nigeria.
9. Points 7 and 8 above while poorly achieving the immoral illegitimate objectives of the misguided elements also have the unfortunate tendency to compromise security.
*C. Underlying Politics of it*
10. The rising profile of HE Peter Obi, and growing fortunes of Labour Party have become such a bitter pill for some Nigerian retrogressive status quo politicians to the extent of apparently committing huge amounts of money in creating and spreading falsehood.
11. My preference to remain fair and objective in the matter of wild allegations against a fellow Nigerian, the likes of which I am beginning to witness, has attracted the wrath of the same elements
12. I offer no apologies for having been deemed suitable by a team of diligent and competent head hunters in the matter of 2023 Candidates, but I must observe that there are more decent and honourable ways for disagreeing with a simple choice. The choice is for HE Peter Obi, then and now. All interested parties are welcome to approach HE on how to be accommodated in rescuing Nigeria.
*D. Disclaimer*
13. I hereby dissociate my humble self from the creation, ownership, and operation of any such social media accounts.
14. I equally declare that all exchanges and communications therefrom are without my knowledge or input in any way whatsoever.
*E. Call and Prayer*
15. I humbly call on the general public on and off line to disregard any and all exchanges and communications from the fake social media accounts.
16. I call on the social media platforms owners, creators, and operators to immediately realise the dangers their highly valued technologies portend in society, and quickly responsibly rise to the challenge of preventing further creation and use of fake accounts.
17. I call on the discerning general public, particularly our dear Obidient and Useful followers, to exercise patience until the resolution of these complaints after which we genuinely communicate towards rescuing Nigeria.
I thank you all.
GOD BLESS Labour Party,
LONG LIVE FED. REP. OF NIGERIA.
YDBA.