Euphemia Ojukwu
Labour Party presidential candidate in the 2023 general elections, Mr Peter Obi, and party chieftain, Professor Pat Utomi, have threatened to take legal action against President Bola Tinubu’s aide, Mr Bayo Onanuga, for accusing them of being involved in the proposed “End bad governance” protest.
On 20 July 2024, Bayo Onanuga took to his verified X handle to allege that supporters of Peter Obi and Professor Pat Utomi were involved organising nationwide protests. These protests, according to Onanuga, were aimed at destabilizing the Tinubu-led government, in response to the current economic hardships facing the country. Onanuga’s statements have since gone viral, generating reactions.
Join our WhatsApp Channel“The malcontents planning to stage nationwide protests are supporters of Peter Obi, the failed presidential candidate of the Labour Party. And he should be held responsible for whatever crisis emanates from the action,” Onanuga wrote. He further alleged that the organisers of the planned protest were the same individuals who hijacked the #ENDSARS protests of 2020, implying a potential for anarchy and unrest.
Peter Obi, a former governor of Anambra State, responded swiftly through his lawyer, Alex Ejesieme, SAN. In a letter addressed to Onanuga, Obi demanded a public retraction of the defamatory statement and an unreserved apology to be published in four national newspapers: Vanguard, THISDAY, Punch, and The Cable. Additionally, Obi demanded N5 billion in damages for the harm to his reputation.
READ ALSO: Obi Urges Nigerian Govt To Support Dangote Refinery, Highlights Economic Potential
“The publication was a calculated plot to demean, ridicule, humiliate, and embarrass him by the estimation of every right-thinking member of society,” part of the letter read. Obi highlighted his long-standing record of law-abiding behavior and constructive engagement, asserting that he has never associated himself with violence or protests. “It appears you have achieved your insipid motive, as well-wishers from all around the globe have inundated him with calls to register their shock,” the letter continued.
On his part, Professor Pat Utomi, known for his insightful analyses of Nigeria’s political economy, was also drawn in Onanuga’s allegations. Utomi, who has a longstanding reputation for advocating peaceful and democratic solutions, was equally appalled by the accusations.
Utomi, through his legal team, echoed Obi’s sentiments, condemning the allegations as baseless and harmful to his reputation. He joined Obi in demanding an immediate retraction and public apology from Onanuga, threatening to pursue legal action if these demands were not met within the stipulated 72-hour period.
In a defiant response, Bayo Onanuga took to his verified X handle to dismiss Obi’s court letters. “I am still waiting for the letter from Peter Obi’s lawyer threatening a N5 billion suit and demanding an apology to Peter Obi over the planned ‘revolution’,” Onanuga tweeted. “Let me just tell Obi and his lawyer: I am not afraid of any legal action. We shall meet in court.”
