Valentine Obienyem, the media aide to former presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi, has described allegations that his principal is plotting a coup to oust President Bola Tinubu, as pure lunacy and a joke taken too far.
While describing the allegations credited to one Arabambi as “reckless, seditious and absurd”, Obienyem said in a functional society, “such an accuser would be arrested immediately to give a fuller account of what he knows”, and wondered why he has not been arrested.
In the statement on Friday titled “Coup Plot Allegation: A Dangerous Joke Taken Too Far,” Obienyem stated that the accuser of his principal also mentioned the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Joe Ajaero, Senator Victor Umeh, and members of the Nenadi Usman-led faction of the LP as co-plotters in the scheme to overthrow the Tinubu’s government.
“In his petition to security agencies, Arabambi alleged that Mr. Peter Obi, the 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party, alongside Nigeria Labour Congress President, Joe Ajaero; Senator Victor Umeh; and members of the Nenadi Usman faction, are plotting to overthrow President Bola Tinubu’s government,” Obienyem said.
“This allegation is not just absurd, it is dangerous. Why has the man not been arrested? Coup plotting is not child’s play. It is a serious national security offence.
To casually accuse citizens, especially prominent and responsible figures of attempting to topple a democratically elected government is not only reckless but seditious in itself.
In a functional society, such an accuser would be arrested immediately to give a fuller account of what he knows. Who is this man, and why hasn’t he been arrested?
“If his allegation carries any weight, then the security agencies must take it seriously by interrogating him thoroughly, identifying his sources, and presenting evidence.
“However, if, as it appears, this is mere political mischief, he must face the full consequences of peddling such a dangerous falsehood. Why are we like this in this country, so frivolous with matters of grave national importance?
“A coup is not a term to be bandied around like a political insult. It is treason. To accuse someone of it, especially in a democratic society, is to risk social unrest, undermine confidence in our institutions, and endanger lives. This is not politics; it is lunacy dressed in propaganda.
Nigeria deserves better than this brand of politics. We must not allow desperation and factional rivalry to blind us to the red lines of national security,” Obienyem emphasized.
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