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Dr. Josef Onoh, formerly the South East spokesperson for President Bola Tinubu, has recently asserted that the 2023 Labour Party (LP) Presidential Candidate, Mr. Peter Obi, disregarded his loyalty to Godfather Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, driven by an excessive desire for political influence.
Onoh commented during the International Press Conference led by Obi, shedding light on the opposition’s accusations concerning President Tinubu’s Certificate discussions.
Onoh further alleged that Obi’s switching between political parties presented him as an unreliable and opportunistic politician, driven solely by self-interest despite portraying himself as a representative of the people.
Continuing his criticism of Obi, Onoh suggested that the repercussions of Obi’s betrayal of Ojukwu have haunted him, resulting in the Labour Party, under Lamidi Apapa’s leadership, issuing a disclaimer against Obi and ending his prospects within the party.
Onoh alleged that Obi’s determined efforts mirrored the struggles of Don Quixote, stemming from the collapse of his political career following his departure from multiple political parties, including the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and the LP.
He recounted Peter Obi’s tenure as governor of Anambra, from March to November 2006, February to May 2007, and June 2007 to March 2014, within APGA; additionally, he highlighted Obi’s role as the Vice Presidential candidate for the PDP in 2019 and his subsequent nomination as the LP Presidential candidate in May 2022.
Stressing the importance of the Nigeria Presidency, Onoh reminded Obi of the time when, in March 2006, he (Onoh) served as a member of the Enugu State House of Assembly, representing Enugu north state constituency.
Onoh recalled attending his own inauguration as Governor of Anambra state, upon the invitation of his late brother-in-law, Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu.
‘I recall as your recited the oath of office of Governor of Anambra state, you mentioned multiple times ‘Federal Republic of Nigeria’, ‘President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria’ and ‘Federal Government of Nigeria’, while he only directly mentioned ‘Anambra State’ once during his oath of office.’
Providing further insight to Obi, Onoh emphasized that the Governor’s oath of office, as stated in the Seventh Schedule of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), and quoted by Obi during his inaugurations in March 2006, February 2007, and June 2007, highlights the need for a Governor to wield authority in a manner that does not impede or undermine the lawful powers vested in the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, thus safeguarding the continuity of the Federal Government in Nigeria.
‘It goes on to state that a Governor must devote himself to the service and well-being of the people of Nigeria. So having served as a Governor you are fully aware of the constitution of Nigeria as you took more oath of office more than any other governor in the history of Nigeria, hence it has given you a Bureau de Change political shift mentality. As governor you swore allegiance to the President and service of the people.’
‘Your Excellency sir, please permit me to re-introduce you to Asiwaju Bola Ahmed. A. Tinubu. Like you, he is versatile with the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as he took same oath of office of Governor like you did but unlike you he did twice, he remained consistent and committed to his party the Alliance for Democracy AD which he in 1999 was Lagos State Gubernatorial candidate which he won on 9 January 1999 and defeated the PDP candidate with overwhelming Popular votes of 841,732 against PDP’s 184,900.’
‘In September 2006 he was instrumental to the merger that gave birth to ACN which dissolved in 2013 and formed Merger of Faction of Alliance for Democracy, Justice Party Advance Congress of Democrats and finally Merged into the All Progressives Congress the previous and current ruling party.’
‘Today, May I due to selective amnesia re-introduce Asiwaju Bola Ahmed. A. Tinubu to you, constitutionally he doesn’t need introduction to Nigerians except you alone. President Bola Ahmed. A. Tinubu is the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, he’s our president, he’s your president, he has remained committed and consistent, he is committed to our party the APC, he respects and has remained loyal to Abdulkareem Adebisi Bamidele Akande one of the founding fathers of our party the APC and national chairman of the then AD that Mr. President rode on to become Lagos State Governor.’
‘Unlike you that betrayed my brother- in law, your political godfather and leader of APGA, Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu, (May his soul rest in peace). I recall how he told the good people of Anambra state to vote massively for you the then APGA candidate in the February 2010 election and then incumbent Governor of the state, because by doing so, they would be making him (Ojukwu) happy. He termed it ” My last wish”. And they honoured him by voting for you out of respect for him.’
‘You, swore in the presence of some privileged individuals of which I’m fully informed by Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu during his last days on earth that you will never leave APGA the party that made you everything you are, but immediately he passed away you didn’t waste time to jump ship and abandon same party you swore with the Holy Rosary you won’t abandon.’
‘Permit me to quote the words of Ralph Waldo Emerson: ‘Nothing is at last sacred but the integrity of your own mind.’ In the same vein, he said elsewhere, ‘No law can be sacred to me but that of my own nature.’ Unfortunately you have no integrity, your nature is never to be trusted, appearing more righteous than the pope while sowing the seeds of discord in a pius manner.’
‘Asiwaju Bola Ahmed. A. Tinubu is the 16th and current president of Nigeria, ghe needs no introduction while you’re the 16th defeated presidential candidate for the office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The facts are there, Go and verify,’ Onoh knocked Obi.
