Peter Obi
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The media office of Peter Obi has strongly rejected recurring allegations that the former Anambra State governor targeted or expelled Northerners during his administration, describing the claims as “malicious falsehood” and a calculated attempt to manipulate public perception along ethnic lines.
In a statement issued on Saturday by Ibrahim Umar, spokesman of the Peter Obi Media Reach (POMR), the organisation accused political opponents of reviving divisive narratives because they could not challenge Obi’s record of governance, accountability and economic reforms.
The statement maintained that reports claiming Obi “repatriated” Northerners from Anambra State during his tenure were completely false and misleading.
According to POMR, the Obi administration only implemented a humanitarian and social rehabilitation programme aimed at assisting vulnerable persons, including destitute individuals and unaccompanied minors from different parts of the country living under difficult conditions in cities such as Awka and Onitsha.
“There was never any form of expulsion or ethnic cleansing,” the statement said, insisting that the programme was designed to provide welfare support and rehabilitation irrespective of ethnic background.
The media office further argued that Obi maintained cordial and protective relations with Northern and Muslim communities throughout his eight-year administration in Anambra State.
It stated that during periods of ethno-religious tension across the country, Obi ensured that Northern residents in areas such as the Onitsha Hausa Quarter, popularly known as Ama Awusa, were protected from retaliatory violence.
POMR also claimed that the former governor sponsored Muslim faithful from Anambra State for pilgrimage to Mecca and ensured equal governmental support for both Muslim and Christian communities.
The statement added that Northern traders and livestock dealers operating in markets including Amansea enjoyed a secure business environment without intimidation or extortion under Obi’s administration.
According to the organisation, members of the Hausa-Fulani community in Onitsha and Awka could verify the claims being made about Obi’s relationship with Northern residents in the state.
Defending Obi’s current political message, the media office said his critics were uncomfortable with his economic vision for Northern Nigeria, which it described as central to the country’s future prosperity.
The statement noted that Obi has consistently advocated transforming Northern Nigeria into an agricultural and food production hub capable of driving national economic growth.
“Mr. Obi has consistently and openly asserted that Nigeria’s future lies in the untapped, fertile lands of Northern Nigeria,” the statement read.
POMR alleged that those promoting the anti-North narrative against Obi were politicians who only engage with the region during election periods and were threatened by his message of productivity and economic reform.
The organisation concluded by insisting that the repeated allegations against the former governor would ultimately fail because “the facts speak for themselves,” while reaffirming Obi’s commitment to national unity and economic development across all regions of the country.
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