2023: ‘Obi’s rising profile now bitter pill for some politicians’ – Datti, laments fake social media accounts

Vice-Presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Dr. Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed has stated that the rising profile of the party’s Presidential candidate, Dr Peter Obi has ‘become a bitter pill for some Nigerian retrogressive status quo politicians’ who, he added, now go to the extent of  ‘committing huge amounts of money in creating and spreading falsehood in the name of politics.’

Speaking during a press conference, Monday, in Abuja, Dr Baba-Ahmed also lamented the prevalence of  several fake social media accounts attributed to him, insisting that he has not been on social media for over a decade.

“Impostors had, right from the inception of the various social media platforms, opened accounts in my name without my knowledge or approval. I wrote several complaints accordingly, which were never attended to satisfactorily.

“This situation remained for nearly a decade, and I decided to be inactive on the platforms till my complaints were satisfactorily attended to. Ever since indications began to appear about my joining the Labour Party, more impostors hurriedly opened more accounts in my name, in most cases misspelled or in the wrong format.”

According to him, some of the communications were premeditated and designed to set him against legitimate and established responsible religious organisations, which often culminates in adverse reactions from other social media users.

“I hereby dissociate my humble self from the creation, ownership and operation of any such social media accounts.

“I equally declare that all exchanges and communications therefrom are without my knowledge or input in any way whatsoever.

“I humbly call on the general public on and offline to disregard any and all exchanges and communications from the fake social media accounts,” he said.

He appealed to social media operators to understand the dangers that the misuse of social media poses to the peace and unity of the country.

“I call on the discerning general public, particularly our dear Obidients and useful followers to exercise patience until the resolution of these complaints after which we genuinely communicate towards rescuing Nigeria,” he said.

On the negative campaign mounted against the LP presidential candidate, Obi, the party’s running mate decried that Nigerian politicians now commit huge money just to spread falsehood against him.

“The rising profile of HE Peter Obi, and the growing fortunes of Labour Party have become such a bitter pill for some Nigerian retrogressive status quo politicians to the extent of apparently committing huge amounts of money in creating and spreading falsehood in the name of politics,” Datti said.

The full text:

TEXT OF SEN. YUSUF DATTI BABA-AHMED PRESS CONFERENCE ON FAKE SOCIAL MEDIA ACCOUNTS

A. Timelines

1. Impostors had right from inception of the various social media platforms opened accounts in my Name without my knowledge or approval. I wrote several complaints accordingly which were never attended to satisfactorily. This situation remained for nearly a decade, and I decided to be inactive on the platforms till my complaints were satisfactorily attended to.

2. On 24 May 2022 I withdrew from Kaduna State Governorship Primaries under the PDP on grounds of divergent principles.

3. From 25 Jun 2022 I began receiving indications of a possible Calling to Serve my Nation again this time under Labour Party which culminated in my Unveiling as the Vice Presidential candidate of the Labour Party on the 8th of July 2022.

4. I was interviewed by BBC Hausa immediately after the Event, only to find contents of the said interview misrepresented by another social media page. A Complaint was immediately made, and this page eventually removed the misrepresented news article, but only after much damage had been done.

5. Ever since indications began to appear about my joining the Labour Party, more impostors hurriedly opened more accounts in my Name, in most cases misspelled or in wrong format.

6. Complaints about the fake accounts have been duly lodged and registered with the relevant host platforms, while I wait and continue to suffer the consequences of mischievous and evil postings done by others falsely in my Name.

7. I must acknowledge and appreciate the diligence of well-meaning followers who were quick to observe and object to these accounts on basis of their good knowledge of me.

B. The Situation

8. Some of these communications have been, and continue to be, premeditated and designed to set me against legitimate and established responsible religious organisations, and in some cases portray me negatively in relation to certain sentiments and core values of our society.

9. There is sufficient justification to conclude that these unholy acts against a real change agent at a politically sensitive period may be sponsored by opponents and enemies of progress to disparage me, stain my image and distract us from the noble objective of rescuing Nigeria.

10. From the issues raised in the preceding paragraphs, the poor attempt to perpetuate these condemnable and unethical acts by misguided elements also have the unfortunate tendency to compromise security.

C. Underlying Politics of it

11. The rising profile of HE Peter Obi, and the growing fortunes of Labour Party have become such a bitter pill for some Nigerian retrogressive status quo politicians to the extent of apparently committing huge amounts of money in creating and spreading falsehood in the name of politics.

12. My preference to remain fair and objective in the matter of wild allegations against a fellow Nigerian, the likes of which I am beginning to witness, has attracted the wrath of the same elements.

13. I offer no apologies for having been deemed suitable by a team of diligent and competent head hunters in matters relating to Candidacy in 2023, but I must observe that there are more decent and honourable ways for disagreeing with the issue of prefential choice. The Choice is for HE Peter Obi, then and now. All other interested parties are welcome to approach HE on how to be accommodated in the noble and patriotic plan to rescue Nigeria.

D. Disclaimer

14. I hereby dissociate my humble self from the creation, ownership, and operation of any such social media accounts

15. I equally declare that all exchanges and communications therefrom are without my knowledge or input in any way whatsoever.

E. Call and Prayer

16. I humbly call on the general public on and off line to disregard any and all exchanges and communications from the fake social media accounts.

17. I call on the social media platforms owners, creators, and operators to immediately realise the dangers their highly valued technologies portend in society, and quickly responsibly rise to the challenge of preventing further creation and use of fake accounts.

18. I call on the discerning general public, particularly our dear Obidient and Useful followers, to exercise patience until the resolution of these Complaints after which we genuinely communicate towards rescuing Nigeria.

I thank you all.

GOD BLESS Labour Party

LONG LIVE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA

SEN. YUSUF DATTI BABA-AHMED