Peter Obi: I Respect Atiku, I Won’t Call Anyone Names
The Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has said he is not interested in calling his political opponents names or engaging in arguments with them. He also reaffirmed his respect for his former boss and rival, Atiku Abubakar of the People’s Democratic Party.
Obi made these remarks on Monday at an interactive session with north-eastern stakeholders in Abuja. He dismissed speculations that he was secretly fighting Atiku, who was his principal when he served as vice president from 2019 to 2023.
“Atiku remains a very well respected senior brother. In my place you respect elders. Even if he (Atiku) abuses me publicly, I won’t reply because he is my senior. If God will ever give me money or power to disrespect my seniors, he should take it,” Obi said.
Obi also said he would visit Adamawa, Atiku’s home state, to campaign and greet him if he was around. “I will go to his house to greet him and even eat there. He is my brother,” he added.
Obi, who came third in the presidential election held on Saturday, rejected the outcome and vowed to challenge it in court. He alleged that the process was rigged and did not meet the minimum standard of a free and fair election.
“We will explore all legal and peaceful options to reclaim our mandate. We won the election and we will prove it to Nigerians,” Obi said on Thursday in his first public address since the election.
Obi also cautioned his supporters, popularly called ‘Obidients’, to desist from name calling or derogating anyone, groups of persons or institutions involved in the electoral process. He said such actions would not help his cause but rather tarnish his image and reputation.
Obi is not new to election legal battles: In 2007, he was reinstated as governor of Anambra state three months after he was impeached by the state parliament. He was returned to office by the courts on two other occasions, after the Independent National Electoral Commission declared his opponents as winners of the gubernatorial elections he contested.
