16th July 2024, NewsOrient, News, Law And Society

Former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir Lawal, on Thursday warned President Bola Ahmed Tinubu against and plans or advise to arrest Mr Peter Obi, the Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 General Elections.

He also advised Mr President never to heed to any advice to attack peaceful protesters during, before or after the planned August Hunger Protest in Nigeria.

According to Lawal, failure to heed his advice will have dire consequences for Tinubu’s government.

Babachir Lawal said these in a chat with the members of the press, where he faulted the recent allegation made by President Tinubu’s Media Aide, Bayo Onanuga, that the planned nationwide hunger protest against the Federal Government is being sponsored by Obi and the Obidient Movement.

Lawal said: “Bola Tinubu should not use a forceful approach with the protesters. They mean well for the country.

“If they go out to protest and there is an attempt to forcefully stop them, that will be the catalyst for chaos.

“Tinubu should remove Bayo Onanuga from his position because he doesn’t mean well for his government. His outburst is inflaming Nigerians rather than pacifying them. When you are in government, you don’t insult the people.

“I don’t know if Onanuga is the spokesman of Motor Park Touts Association before he got his current appointment.

“They said he is educated but it doesn’t show in his behaviour. He has an in-built disdain for people and it shows in the way he talks.

“I don’t expect a Presidential Spokesman to come out and say the planned protest is being organised by Peter Obi.

“If Obi has the character that Onanuga is ascribing to him, this government would have been down a long time ago.

“How can you say Obi has anything to do with the protest? Even to complain, Obi will not let you accompany him.

“It is one of the reasons why some of us just kept away from him. When you insult him, he will not reply. He will just go about doing his own business.

“Let them arrest him if that is their plan and see the consequences.

“I know that is what Onanuga is working towards. Anyone asking Tinubu to arrest Peter Obi doesn’t mean well for him. It is like they took cyanide with their own hands and swallow it.

“I really don’t know what is Onanuga’s problem with Igbos. Igbos are good people. They are our classmates from primary, secondary schools to the university. They are our business partners, they are our neighbours. We buy things from them. An Igbo man in my village is the one selling local gin (ogogoro). He left his village and settled down in my village. He is married and has farmlands.

“Tinubu is a good man but he is surrounded by sycophants like Onanuga who will not tell him the truth,” the former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) said.

Photo Credit: Punch

~ NewsOrient