The Peter Obi Media Reach has strongly condemned Vice President Kashim Shettima’s “disparaging” comments about NDC presidential candidate Peter Obi.
According to a statement on Sunday signed by POMR spokesperson Idris Zekeri Jnr, “The VP discourteously referred to Obi as ‘diminished’ while calling on Northerners to show respect to Atiku Abubakar. Possibly because he is a Northerner. Although Shettima has the right to oppose Obi, it is difficult to understand why he would demand respect for one opposition leader while casually dismissing another.”
Zekeri said that as a man of great decency, Obi has conducted his campaign professionally and decorously; has consistently focused his remarks on issues and has neither discussed nor used abusive language against anyone.
Zekeri noted further that Shettima and Obi were governors during the same period.
He added, “However, Obi’s performance in Anambra State across key areas of governance surpassed Shettima’s record in Borno State, as demonstrated by performance statistics and the awards he received. During his tenure as governor of Anambra, Peter Obi earned recognition for his fiscal discipline and investments in education and healthcare. If Shettima contests any aspect of Obi’s record, he should present the facts rather than resort to political name-calling.
“The Media Office also calls on South-East political leaders who have shown disrespect toward Obi to take a lesson from the Vice President, who joined them in disparaging their brother while demanding respect for his northern counterpart in the opposition.
“We urge Igbo leaders in the APC and all Nigerians to draw the appropriate lesson from this episode and note that political loyalty must never justify tolerating disrespect toward a fellow Nigerian. Those who oppose Obi should scrutinise his ideas and record rather than resorting to personal abuse. Nigeria needs a contest based on records and ideas, not selective respect and political denigration. The Nigerian people, rather than Shettima’s rhetoric, will determine Peter Obi’s political relevance.”
