Presidential spokesman Daniel Bwala has accused Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), of building what he described as a movement of “political extremists,” alleging that the former Anambra State governor has failed to take responsibility for the conduct of some of his supporters.
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Bwala made the remarks in an interview on TVC’s Politics on Sunday, responding to questions about his repeated criticism of Obi.
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Rejecting the suggestion that he was fixated on the presidential candidate, Bwala said he only reacted after Obi’s supporters made comments that prompted media organisations to seek his response.
“Every time, his people are the first to talk, the media houses will ask us to react. But the narrative peddled by the media is as if we wake up from sleep and we are looking for Peter Obi,” he said.
He further argued that Obi posed no political threat to President Bola Tinubu.
“Obi is inconsequential… Peter Obi is not a match to Asiwaju. All the governors that have governed in Lagos have all done better than Peter Obi. So, Peter Obi is not a match,” Bwala said.
The presidential aide, however, contended that the former Anambra State governor had introduced a dangerous dimension into Nigerian politics.
“Peter Obi introduced into our politics a very dangerous phenomenon. He is building a movement that will be no far different from bandits,” he said, alleging that some of Obi’s supporters had recently circulated false reports of his death.
Asked to clarify the comparison between Obi’s supporters, popularly known as Obidients, and bandits, Bwala said he was referring to political extremism.
“They are political extremists,” he stated.
To buttress his point, Bwala cited an incident involving a member of the Obidient movement who was criticised online after meeting Seyi Tinubu, son of President Bola Tinubu.
“These people wanted to eat him alive. When he called their bluff, Peter Obi flew from Lagos and went and met him. Do you know these people were online abusing him? But when Peter Obi went to meet him, he said it is the opposition abusing him,” Bwala alleged.
He went on to accuse Obi of consistently distancing himself from the conduct of his supporters.
“He has never accepted the responsibility of the conduct of his people. He has always said it is the opposition,” Bwala said.
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