A group, the Concerned Citizens Network (CCN) has sent petitions to the United States and United Kingdom embassies to probe the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, over his alleged ties with the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) in the South East region.
Obi had recently faulted the Nigerian government’s proscription of the group as a terrorists’ organisation.
He had made it clear that IPOB was neither a terrorist organisation nor were its members terrorists.
The Anambra State-born businessman and former governor of the state had maintained that the group’s members did not constitute a threat to the country.
However, CCN in different letters addressed to the United States and United Kingdom Ambassadors in Nigeria said Obi could not publicly condemn the various attacks in the South-East in recent times because it may affect his 2023 presidential ambition.
The letter was signed by CCN President, Comrade Duru Odoh Chima and Secretary, General, Ajibade Jacobs.
“We have it on credible authority that IPOB has tactically endorsed Peter Obi’s presidential aspiration, which is mainly responsible for enlisting some known IPOB sympathisers into his presidential campaign council,” it read.
“On several occasions, Peter Obi has systematically refused to make the IPOB threat to our democracy a campaign focus because the promoters of IPOB are his kinsmen and known financial contributors to his presidential campaign.
“This is a worrisome trend that would put the country in a precarious situation should Peter Obi be elected President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The deceitful game played by Peter Obi and his supporters can promote ethnic and religious tension in the country.
“In several public outings, he attempted to change the narrative concerning the formation and sustenance of IPOB by alluding that it was a creation of governors of states in the South-East. This, we gathered from reliable sources, was a part of the deal he entered with the group in return for support during the presidential elections.
“The overarching objective is to attack critical government establishments such as the Nigerian Police and the Independent National Electoral Commission’s offices to harass and intimidate faithful of other parties into submission to voting for Peter Obi in the presidential elections.”
“It is thus our passionate appeal to the United States of America to beam its searchlight on the activities of IPOB.
“Hence this letter is calling on the attention of the United States of America to look into to an unholy alliance between Peter Obi and [POB. Nigeria cannot afford a president poised to propagate ethno-religious conflict at this critical point of our existence.
“As critical stakeholders in our democracy, we wish to appeal for the urgent intervention of the United States of America in ensuring that Peter Ob: and his supporters do not plunge Nigeria into a conflict of unimaginable proportions,” the group said.
Meanwhile, a message sent to IPOB spokesperson, Emma Powerful, by SaharaReporters for reaction had not yet been replied as of the time of this report.