Tinubu’s plot to arrest Obi will breed consequences govt can’t handle, he adds
By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
Bola Tinubu’s tactics of avoiding responsibility for the mess in the land and plot to arrest Peter Obi of the Labour Party (LP) over the planned mega hunger protest will backfire badly and lead the country into dangerous territory, Babachir Lawal has warned the President.
The former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) denounced the drum beat by Tinubu blaming Obi and others for the protest being planned by youths aggrieved by misallocation of national resources that exacerbates economy hardship and hunger across Nigeria.
Lawal, who supported Obi for President in the last campaign, warned the consequences of weaving phantom charges around Obi and arresting him would be too severe for the government to handle.
He described as unfounded allegation by Tinubu’s spokesman Bayo Onanuga that the #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria protest planned to begin on August 1 is sponsored by Obi and the Obidient Movement.
Lawal also warned Tinubu to sack Onanuga and to not use force against the protesters, because doing so will be a “catalyst for chaos.”
“Bola Tinubu should not use a forceful approach with the protesters. They mean well for the country. If they go out to protest and there is an attempt to forcefully stop them, that will be the catalyst for chaos,” Lawal told journalists in Abuja.
“Tinubu should remove Bayo Onanuga from his position because he doesn’t mean well for his government. His outbursts are inflaming Nigerians rather than pacifying them. When you are in government, you don’t insult the people.”
“I don’t know if Onanuga was the spokesman of the Motor Park Touts Association before he got his current appointment. They said he is educated, but it doesn’t show in his behavior. He has an in-built disdain for people, and it shows in the way he talks.”
“I don’t expect a presidential spokesman to come out and say the planned protest is being organised by Peter Obi. If Obi had the character that Onanuga is ascribing to him, this government would have been down a long time ago.
“How can you say Obi has anything to do with the protest? Even to complain, Obi will not let you accompany him.
“It is one of the reasons why some of us just kept away from him. When you insult him, he will not reply. He will just go about doing his own business.
“Let them arrest him if that is their plan and see the consequences. I know that is what Onanuga is working towards. Anyone asking Tinubu to arrest Peter Obi doesn’t mean well for him [Tinubu]. It is like they took cyanide with their own hands and swallowed it.”
“I really don’t know what Onanuga’s problem with Igbos is. Igbos are good people. They are our classmates from primary, secondary schools to university. They are our business partners; they are our neighbors.”
“We buy things from them. An Igbo man in my village is the one selling local gin [ogogoro]. He left his village and settled down in my village. He is married and has farmlands.
“Tinubu is a good man, but he is surrounded by sycophants like Onanuga who will not tell him the truth.”
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Related articles:
Hunger protesters list 15 demands, Tinubu threatens unleashing thugs against them
Obi claps back at Tinubu, ‘stop attacking me, do your job and end hunger in Nigeria’
Tinubu makes another appeal against August 1st protest, says hoodlums will hijack it
Obi threatens to sue Bayo Onanuga, demands apology, N5bn over link to planned protest
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