The Labour Party Presidential Candidate in the just concluded general election, Mr Peter Obi has urged the public to disregard cheap tricks of impersonation of his person as his duplicates are still on a rampage, stating that he’s a target of mischief both locally and internationally.
In a post on Thursday, the Former Anambra State Governor revealed that he is no ethnic or religious bigot as stated by Prince Mustapha Audu, son of the late Governor of Kogi state at the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal in Abuja on Wednesday.
Narrating, Mr Obi who is challenging the process of the 2023 presidential election and its declared winner disclosed that a voice impersonated and called Mr Audu and cut off the call when he spoke Igbo and Mt Audu could not respond.
He made it clear that he never made such a call and was not even in the country when the incident happened. He called on supporters and Nigerians to be wary of such mischief and tricks.
His post reads; “My duplicates are still on the rampage, they now mimic my voice and call people. There is no limit that people cannot go to cause mischief on their target. I have been a target both locally and internationally.
The latest incident happened in Abuja yesterday, 17th May at the Court of Appeal premises of the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal venue, where my attention was drawn to what was going on outside the courtroom.
A report came to me while I was seated in court that one Prince Mustapha Audu, son of the late Governor of Kogi state, held the OBIdient’s Chief Spokesman, Dr Yunusa Tanko and some others spellbound – castigating and talking down on me,
describing me as an ethnic and religious bigot. He claimed that I called him while I was in front of his office on Tuesday morning at about 11 am, but suddenly cut off the phone after I spoke Igbo and he, Audu was unable to respond.
According to him, Obi may have only helped to empower some businessmen strictly because they were Igbos, and he wondered why Obi should aspire to lead the country if he cannot accommodate other ethnic groups.
It was one of my aides who quickly alerted me on what was going on and I pleaded with him to go outside and tell the OBIdients who were with the man to kindly delay him until I come out of the courtroom. After the court proceedings,
I met with Audu and he repeated the same story, adding that he was angry at me for cutting off the phone on him because he could not speak Igbo. He insisted that I was in front of his office in Abuja when I called.
I then introduced myself again to him and told him, “My brother, I did not call you, and I couldn’t have been in front of your office on Tuesday because I was not in Abuja, and not even in the country. At about the time you alleged that I called you,
I was arriving Nice in France for a meeting. By the evening of the same day, I flew to London for another meeting and in fact, had to breeze in to felicitate with my dear elder brother, Dele Momodu on his 63rd birthday.
I only flew into the country this morning for this court session” The young man, looking embarrassed and surprised at the same time added that the voice of the caller and everything sounded like mine. We exchanged pleasantries and took pictures.
This is just one of the many desperate efforts to run me down and tag me as what I am not to gain some perceived political mileage against me.
Ordinarily, I am not scared or worried about competitions provided they are within the legitimate rules of engagement, but going this far is worrisome.
It is quite very worrisome because this is certainly not the right way to develop a nation that is in dire need of positive changes that will enable her to join the League of Nations tis are moving forward.
I appeal to the public to beware and not easily deceived with the cheap tricks of impersonating me for whatever ulterior intentions. – PO.’
In April, Mr. Obi was delayed by immigration officials at Heathrow Airport and detained. He was released shortly afterward.
A statement issued by the Head, Obi-Datti Media, Diran Onifade, on the matter, said, “He was questioned for a long time and it was very strange for a man who lived for over a decade in that country.”
