Ethnic, religious bigot: ‘Don’t join in such senseless and unsubstantiated allegations,’ Obi tackles Nnamani
Candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the February 25 Presidential election, Peter Obi, has tackled the incumbent senator representing Enugu East senatorial zone, Chimaroke Nnamani, over the latter’s allegations of ethnic and religious of bigotry leveled against him, Monday.
Nnamani a former Enugu State, has been on a tirade of posts via his verified Twitter handle from Monday up till Tuesday morning, broadcasting a series of tweets berating his loss in the March 18 rescheduled Enugu East senatorial elections, Peter Obi and his Obidients Movement in the South East polity, his re-election bid which he lost to the Labour Party candidate, Kevin Chukwu, the younger brother of slain Barrister Oyibo Chukwu, who was assassinated three days to the initially-scheduled March 11 elections.
Nnamani had in the series of tweets, Monday, berated the apex Igbo socio-political group, the Ohanaeze Ndigbo, South East governors in general, and particularly Peter Obi supporters of the Obidient Movement he said ‘is nothing close to core Igbo values.’
This is further as the former Enugu state governor labeled the movement as ‘a moving mass of hate, bile and vacuous bunkham.’
According to Nnamani, who also aimed several vile tweets at Peter Obi, who he called ‘Giringory,’ Igbo leaders ‘cowered at Peter Gringory Obi message of hate, bile and incitement.’
However, responding to Nnamani, Obi in a letter addressed to the senator, Tuesday, expressed ‘shock,’ over the allegations against him, as, according to him, ‘I am the direct opposite of what you said in your statement and what my campaigns have been.’
Obi then challenged Nnamani to ‘show anywhere in my public appearance where I in any way portrayed ethnic, or religious bigotry or where I called names, even when I came to campaign in Enugu State.’
On allegations that members of the Obidients Movement had started the ‘Lagos is no-man’s land’ slogan, Obi told Nnamani that ‘there is no evidence of that, which I see as a case of giving a dog a bad name just to hang it.’
“Throughout these electioneering campaigns, you have consistently cast aspersions on my person, despite my always being respectful to you as an elder brother, and never publicly or privately commenting negatively about you.
“I am really surprised that you as my dear elder brother would go out of the way in the exercise of his fundamental rights of freedom of speech and expression as enshrined in our law to go into saying what he knows is not true.
“I find it very shocking that you had to label me as an ethnic and religious bigot and as one who indulges in a campaign of hatred.
“In this instance, I like to state unequivocally that I am the direct opposite of what you said in your statement and what my campaigns have been.
“I want to believe that my dear elder brother must have mistaken me for someone else because, in this campaign, I have consistently championed issues-based campaigns, and maintained so, even using illustrations and data to buttress my position, to the extent that I have been accused of using data wrongly and media houses had to create fact check desks just to monitor and address issues I raised during campaigns.
“I have been on record to have insisted severally throughout the country that I should not be voted for based on any ethnic or religious link, but to be considered based on Character, Character, Capacity, and Compassion. I have always respectfully requested that my track records & integrity be verified.
“I will also like to challenge anybody including, my dear elder brother to show anywhere in my public appearance where I in any way portrayed ethnic, or religious bigotry or where I called names, even when I came to campaign in Enugu State.
“I was also taken aback at your attributing the ‘Lagos is no man’s land’ statement to Igbos because there is no evidence of that which I see as a case of giving a dog a bad name just to hang it.
“Maybe my brother would like to know that I got more votes from non-Igbos in Lagos, Abuja, & other parts of Nigeria, and even if Igbos voted for me should it be the reason why they should be chased away from where they are living and making tangible contributions to development?
“Britain will not send Indians packing because they voted for an Indian to become the Prime Minister.
“I also noticed the spirited efforts you put up to tag me a tribal bigot but such would be hard to prove empirically and I would like to advise my dear elder brother not to join in such senseless and unsubstantiated allegations just to dent one’s image.
“As I very much know that among the critical characteristics of every good leader are listening, and learning and my brother advised that I should return to school to learn some aspects of leadership I am lacking.
“Why should I go to school to pay huge fees when I can get it free of charge from my dear elder brother who knows it better? I respectfully appeal that I be invited by my Senior brother to teach me accordingly.
“My warmest regards to the family and God bless,” Obi’s letter read.
It would be recalled that the rescheduled Enugu East senatorial elections held last Saturday with Kevin Chukwu emerging victorious after defeating Nnamani, the incumbent senator representing the zone, who was still contesting on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) that incidentally had expelled him from the party over allegations of anti-party activities in early February, this year.
LP’s Kevin Chukwu clinched the seat after having polled 69,136 votes to defeat Nnamani, who scored 48,701 votes.
Meanwhile, in a fallout of tirade of tweets, Nnamani, Monday, formally resigned from the PDP after losing his bid to win re-election to the senate for another term.
Incidentally, his appeal against expulsion by the PDP at the High Court in Abuja is still pending before the judges.
Nnamani, in a statement on Monday, titled; ‘Sen Nnamani quits PDP, said after consultations with his associates and constituents alike, he had decided to quit the PDP on account of irreconcilable differences with the national leadership of the party.
“Former Governor of Enugu state and Senator representing Enugu East in the Senate, Senator Chimaroke Nnamani has formally withdrawn his membership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) just as he expressed appreciation to his constituents for the unalloyed support over the years .
“Senator Nnamani said he has consulted with his associates and constituents alike and have decided to quit the PDP on account of irreconcilable differences with the national leadership of the party .
“He said he has moved on and hoped that his modest contributions to the development of his constituency will be the building blocks on which his successors can build on.
“Senator Nnamani thanked Nigerians especially the Ebeano political family and urged them to remain steadfast in the years ahead.
“The former Governor reaffirmed his acquaintance with the President-Elect Bola Ahmed Tinubu and promised to continue to partner with him.
“Senator Nnamani expressed optimism that a Tinubu Administration will promote good governance, rule of law and human rights for the interest of all Nigerians.
“Signed: Senator (Dr) Chimaroke Nnamani MD, FACOG
“Chairman, Senate Committee on Cooperation & Integration in Africa/NEPAD.”
Tweeting via his verified Twitter handle (@ChimarokeNamani), the former governor wrote between Monday and Tuesday:
“2023 election! An era gone! The morrow beckons!
“Political social climbers and beneficiaries of undeserved placements. Playing well below their league though with early emergent unexplained deep pockets. Hardly containing their joy at deceiving others. Pumping fists in exhilaration and unrestrained Staccato AAFFIAAAh #Chimaroke
“I pity men who wallow in uncertain containment. Genuflect in perpetual subservience. Eternally pretentious do gooders. Voluptuous masses of protoplasmic dribblers. Double faced liars. Wicked, impassioned and crass deal makers.#Chimaroke
“Peter “Gringory” Obi has set the Igbo political trajectory 24 years back.He has become a twin Blight &Scourge on the Land. His devious Opium served to Christians within sections of Nigeria and to Igbo domiciled in different sections of Nigeria is wicked and dangerous.#Chimaroke
“The Oha Na Eze. Grown elders who kept quiet while the goats labored tethered will live to regret their political miscalculations. As Governor, I knew they were essentially inert. Coming to Enugu at long weekends to catch fun with young girls in the guise of “Nkpuke” #Chimaroke
“These Igbo leaders including “Asoebi” Governors quite unlike my ’99 class. They danced while Igbo Land burnt. They lacked the “Liver” to condemn “sit at home” nor condemn the killings. They cowered at Peter Gringory Obi message of hate, bile and incitement. They failed! #Chimaroke
“Governors, LG Chairmen failed 100 percent. Ordinary water unavailable in cities. Unemployment, Pollutants and “Rubbish ” living house to house in competition with our people. Massive public neglect gave fertile ground for Peter Gringory Obi to plant his message of Hate.#Chimaroke
“My mistake. I blew it. Allowed my disdain for the dysfunctional Nigerian elite to get to me. Could not stand their kerfuffle. Will pursue a different paradigm next. They are my folks , ignorant, poor, dirty . Live in face me I face you home. I love them.50k votes. Huge #Chimaroke
“6 million votes! What next? A trophy for Mr Obi. He has to go to school to learn good manners on living with neighbors. Building confidence and trust. Not abuse, threat and divisive language. Christians against Muslims. Igbo against fellow Nigerians. #Chimaroke
“As, I reflect on the mythological Trinity of the Igbo Character,1.Cot of Reason (Ako na Uche) 2.Old Fashion Hustle (Igbambo) 3.Adventure/Casting wide nets (Njepu). Peter Obi’s movement is nothing close to core Igbo values. A moving mass of hate, bile and vacuous bunkham.#Chimaroke
“Enugu people know I cannot loose election in “ebeano Country”. I wish Sen.Kelvin Chukwu well. The real story will follow the conclusion of all the elections. A story of betrayal and sabotage by little minds. Who thought they were killing the dream of a Senate Presidency.#Chimaroke
“As one who has mentored many young people. I am glad I am giving space to a younger Nkanu man. Enthused by the changes and potentials of being a Senator will bring to him and our people. He will serve as a role model and veritable tool to inspire many. #Chimaroke
“On a lighter note, being a liberal, I know his emergence will pain my detractors more than myself. I also believe his victory will serve even minimally as a soothing balm for the loss of his brother. I truly wish him well. And thank God for an uneventful exit. #Chimaroke”
