A Coalition of Northern Elders (CNE) has called on Nigeria’s security operatives to arrest Peter Obi, the Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate in the 2023 Elections.
This is as they insisted that nothing must stop the inauguration of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu as the next President of Nigeria on May 29, 2023.
According to reubenabati.com.ng, the coalition at the end of its meeting tagged the ‘Convention of Arewa Elders’ held at the Arewa House in Kaduna State, accused Peter Obi and his running mate, Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed of making inciteful statements capable of disrupting Nigeria’s democratic system.
The CNE Issues a Communique To Arrest Peter Obi
According to the Arewa Elders in their communique which was read by the Chairman of Gamji Heritage, Alhaji Suleiman Usman Jere shortly after the meeting, Obi engaged in a very divisive ethnoreligious campaign during the 2023 elections and has continued to make threats and promote civil disobedience after losing in the February 25 presidential election.
According to them: “Particularly worrisome, are the pronouncements of Mr. Peter Obi and Mr. Datti Ahmed, the Presidential and Vice Presidential candidates of the Labour Party, as well as other Labour Party leaders including sources said to be linked to IPOB, ESN, which are known terrorist organisations.
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“It is on record that Mr. Peter Obi engaged a very divisive ethno-religious campaign during the 2023 elections and has continued to brazenly display anti-democratic tendencies opting for civil disobedience and threats in place of constitutional means through the Courts.
“We are calling on all our security agencies to be alive to their responsibilities. It amounts to treason for anybody to call for truncating our democracy by whatever guises, be it Interim National Government let alone the call for a military coup. Perpetrators must be arrested and be brought to book with immediate effect!’’
Call for Tinubu’s Swearing-in
The coalition added that the North massively voted for Tinubu and will protect its votes in the interest of the nation.
“Elections have been held and the Winner has emerged. The people of the North massively voted for Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu in National interest.
‘’We are mindful of our voting and will stand firmly to protect our democracy. We remain committed to the May 29th swearing-in date in line with Nigeria’s constitutional provisions,’” the group said.
Interim Government Not an Option?
On his part, Major General Mohammed Sani Saleh (rtd) said if it were military officers doing what Obi is doing currently, they would have been arrested.
He, therefore, asked for the same law to be applied against the LP candidate and arrest Peter Obi, though he is a civilian.