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Nigeria’s information minister, Lai Mohammed, has come under intense ridicule for falsely accusing Peter Obi of treason after the latter rejected the outcome of the February 25 presidential polls.
Mr Mohammed, as the spokesman of then oppostion All Progressives Congress, relentlessly advocated for a parallel government in the last days of the Goodluck Jonathan administration.
In 2014, Mr Mohammed’s APC had threatened to constitute a parallel government if the Goodluck Jonathan-led rugged the 2015 general election. The elections which eventually saw the ousting of Mr Jonathan by Gen. Muhammadu Buhari was heated.
During the ensuing debates, Mr Mohammed went as far as citing how electoral fraud triggered civil wars in Algeria and Kenya where at least 1,000 persons died, in a veiled threat that implied what awaited Mr Jonathan, should he toe the same path.
Many pundits, however, thought it hypocritical that the same Mr Mohammed who justified a proposed parallel government to rankle Mr Jonathan’s presidency, was now incensed that Mr Obi was contesting the result that gave the APC their contentious win.
The elections as observed by Western entities like the Chatham House and European Union, were tainted by intimidation, violence and voter suppression and Mr Obi said Nigeria’s democracy was being threatened.
But Mr Mohammed, speaking to U.S. media, blustered allegation of treason against Mr Obi and his running mate, a claim the Labour Party candidate had refuted and described as malicious and fictitious.
The minister’s remarks have caused him to trend on social media particularly Twitter where many users excoriated him for making unfounded accusations against the Labour Party candidate.
“Nonsense. No reasonable persons in the world ever waste their time worrying about peddlers of false accusations . I think the Minister Lai Mohammed of the Federal Ministry of Information and Culture @FMICNigeria is trying to outdo his APC colleagues in thoughtless talks,” tweeted former education minister, Oby Ezekwesili.
“That’s the same vehicle they used to come to power in 2015. APC still adopting old tricks after everyone has unmasked them!” according to Twitter user, CFC4Naija.
“Lai Mohammed accusing Peter Obi of treason is a big joke. Ever since this issue went to the election tribunal & Peter Obi has sought justice in the corrupt courts, the man has not for once called for a protest. Talk-less of inciting folks. These are gimmicks to have him arrested,” @SirDavidBent tweeted.
@GodwinOyibode1 wrote,” Lai Mohammed, lacks moral justification, to brand perceived political opponents as treasonous.. APC has done enough damage already, to electoral system.”
The information minister had vehemently defended ex-governor Rotimi Amaechi’s call for a parallel government in 2014 to undermine the former president and push for Mr Buhari’s presidency.
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