Mr. Valentine Obienyem, media aide to Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, has strongly dismissed allegations that his principal is involved in a plot to overthrow President Bola Tinubu, describing the claim as reckless, absurd, and seditious.
In a statement titled “Coup Plot Allegation: A Dangerous Joke Taken Too Far”, Obienyem criticized Arabambi, the individual behind the claim, for falsely implicating Obi, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) President Joe Ajaero, Senator Victor Umeh, and others in what he described as a nonexistent coup plot.
“To casually accuse citizens, especially responsible figures, of attempting to topple a democratically elected government is not only reckless but seditious in itself,” Obienyem said.
He questioned why Arabambi had not been arrested, adding that in any functional democracy, such a grave allegation would lead to an immediate interrogation of the accuser. Obienyem warned that frivolous use of terms like “coup” not only undermines national stability, but also risks social unrest and damages public trust.
“This is not politics; it is lunacy dressed in propaganda… Nigeria deserves better than this brand of politics,” he concluded.
The statement calls for accountability for spreading such dangerous falsehoods and urges security agencies to either investigate the claims thoroughly or hold the accuser responsible.
