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| Mr. Peter Obi |
The Peter Obi Media Office (POMR) has strongly condemned Vice President Kashim Shettima for describing the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate, Peter Obi, as “diminished,” calling the remark disrespectful and inconsistent with the standards expected of a senior public official.
In a statement signed by POMR spokesman Idris Zekeri Jnr, the media office said Shettima made the comment while urging Northerners to respect former Vice President Atiku Abubakar. It argued that it was contradictory for the Vice President to demand respect for one opposition leader while casually dismissing another.
POMR acknowledged Shettima’s right to oppose Obi politically but maintained that disagreement should not excuse personal denigration. The office said Obi has run a professional and decorous campaign, concentrating on issues rather than attacking or abusing opponents.
The statement also pointed to the two men’s records as former governors, noting that Obi and Shettima served during the same period. POMR claimed that Obi’s performance in Anambra State surpassed Shettima’s record in Borno State, citing governance statistics, awards, fiscal discipline, and investments in education and healthcare.
“During his tenure as governor of Anambra, Peter Obi earned recognition for his fiscal discipline and investments in education and healthcare. If Shettima contests any aspect of Obi’s record, he should present the facts rather than resort to political name-calling, the statement explains.
POMR further called for issue-based politics, urging political leaders and commentators to assess candidates by their ideas, policies, and records rather than selective respect or personal attacks. It added that Obi’s political relevance would ultimately be decided by Nigerian voters, not by political rhetoric.
“If Shettima contests any aspect of Obi’s record, he should present the facts rather than resort to political name-calling,” the statement said.
The Media Office also calls on South-East political leaders who have shown disrespect toward Obi to take a lesson from the Vice President, who joined them in disparaging their brother while demanding respect for his northern counterpart in the opposition.
“We urge Igbo leaders in the APC and all Nigerians to draw the appropriate lesson from this episode and note that political loyalty must never justify tolerating disrespect toward a fellow Nigerian.
“Those who oppose Obi should scrutinise his ideas and record rather than resorting to personal abuse. Nigeria needs a contest based on records and ideas, not selective respect and political denigration. The Nigerian people, rather than Shettima’s rhetoric, will determine Peter Obi’s political relevance.
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