Three former
Commissioners of Police (CPs) in Anambra State during the tenure of Mr. Peter
Obi as governor of the state have exonerated him from the allegations that he
demolished mosques and sacked non-indigenes, particularly northerners from the state.
These allegations are
being propagated by the opposition against him on social media.
Speaking on at different
occasions on the subject-matter, they were unanimous in rating Obi as a fair,
humane and detribalised Nigerian, “whose passion as governor was for the good
of all within his jurisdiction.”
Dismissing the news of
demolition of mosques as a lie and propaganda obviously planted by the
opposition to discredit the Atiku/Obi presidential ticket, they called on all
well-meaning Nigerians, including Northern youths, to disregard the news as
fake, urging them to always try as much as possible to verify report before
believing them.
The former CPs in Anambra
State, Gwary Usman, Alhaji Amusa Bello and Philemon Leha, who later retired in
higher ranks, expressed concern over the spate of fake news, especially on
social media, targeted at impugning the integrity of credible Nigerians, incidentally,
the three ex-police officers are northerners who served during Obi's eight
years as governor.
Alhaji Amusa Bello, who
was the CP in Anambra State from 2006 to 2010, described the allegation as
laughable and a figment of the author’s imagination.
He also advised rumour
mongers and purveyors of falsehood to desist from such acts, and support
whoever God anointed to showcase what modern politics, leadership and
management should represent.
Bello observed that it
was unthinkable for anyone to associate Obi with violence or rascality as he
never demolished any Mosque nor asked anyone,
aside from criminals and kidnappers, to leave the state.
According to him, “I call
on those behind this rumour to desist from that and look for fact. They should
stop this ‘pull-him-down syndrome’ that will never take them anywhere good. Obi
has a lot of credentials and several attributes that favour him in his
aspiration. He dresses simple among others. Let them look for fact. He has
emerged vice presidential candidate to Alhaji Atiku Abubakar; it’s God that
ordained him. Let them support him.”
Similarly, retired Deputy
Inspector General of Police, Mr. Philemon Leha, asserted that the Obi he worked
with could not have and did not demolish Mosques nor asked non-indigenes to
leave the state.
Visibly upset by the
spurious allegation against Obi, he said: “I am from the North and I know what
I am saying. Northerners are among the people building the economy of Anambra
State and in what circumstances could a governor have sacked them? Numbering
millions, they are practically everywhere in the state, including Awka,
Amansea, Onitsha, Nnewi and many other towns and communities. Let Nigerians be
assured that the allegation is a lie.”
Usman, who is a retired AIG,
described the allegation as "false and wicked." According to him, “It
is not true. The allegation is false. I was in the state as CP and I was better
placed to know the truth. Throughout the time I was in the state, nothing like
that ever happened."
Surprised at the gullibility
of the people, he submitted that “Peter Obi is a gentleman. I can vouch for
him. He is a detribalised citizen. I can tell you authoritatively that even if
I wake up from slumber, I will tell you that Obi did not and can never hate any
Northerner. I am surprised that our people are being deceived.”
No comments:
Post a Comment