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Don’t stifle rights of angry Nigerians to freedom of expression, activist tells Peter Obi

Published

3 years ago

July 27, 2022

Human rights activist and author, Comrade Paul Njoku has cautioned the presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Mr. Peter Obi, not to stifle the rights of angry Nigerians to express their opinion.

Comrade Njoku made the remarks in a statement he personally signed and made available to News Band on Wednesday.

Peter Obi had, in a statement published online, urged his supporters not to respond to any politician that makes disparaging comments about him, but should allow him to do so.

He said:

“I most sincerely appreciate all my supporters and those of LP. I love you all.

“I wish to appeal to you to allow me to personally respond to any CANDIDATE that makes comments about me.”

Reacting in a counter-statement, Njoku said that it is wrong for the former governor of Anambra State to ask his supporters not to respond to attacks fired against him by other politicians and/or their agents.

He stressed that such advice may stifle the fundamental human rights of Nigerians in respect to freedom of expression, opinion, amongst others, as guaranteed in the constitution

Njoku, in the statement entitled “Stop stifling angry Nigerians their rights to freedom of expression and opinion“, said:

“It is very sad and unacceptable that the Presidential candidate of Labour Party, Peter Obi, is incessantly telling angry Nigerians and his millions of supporters across the nation not to respond to any presidential candidate who ignorantly denigrates or criticises him.

“He should stop stifling the fundamental human rights of Nigerians with regards to freedom of expression, opinion among others as guarranteed in the Nigerian constitution.

“I want to remind him that he is an intended labourer of the masses and an upcoming employee of Nigerians due to his perceived competence, merit and capacity to deliver Nigeria from her present unbearable situation by the Buhari – led federal government.

“I therefore urge him to henceforth desist from telling his proposed employers (Nigerians) not to be engaging any presidential candidate regards the murderous Nigerian economic situation as he lacks the right to issue such unacceptable statement.

“I am convinced that Peter Obi does not utterly understand that the Obi movement is a new Nigerian movement for a rebirth of economic emissary and direct human capital development and growth.

“He must accept the fact that if millions of OBIDIENTS are rude and fiery disposed, they are responding to Nigeria’s 41 trillion naira debt.

“He should be told that Nigerians are responding to a dead educational system and responding to executive corruption in the corridors of power.

“He should know that Nigerians are responding to the gripping poverty all over Nigeria. They are responding to the political looters and the billions stolen by the Nigerian leaders of all levels over the years,” he concluded.